JUNIOR 
NDEAYOR 



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Junior Endeavor 



In 



Theory and Practice 



By 
MRS. FRANCIS E. CLARK . 

Author of ^^A Daily Message for Christian Endeavor ers.'*^ 




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United Society of Christian Endeavor 
BOSTON AND CHICAGO 






THE LIBRARY OF 


CONGRESS. 


Two Copies 


Received 


JUN 1 


190? 


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Entry 


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XXcNo. 


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Copyright, 1903 

by the 

United Society of Christian Endeavor 



Prefa 



ce 



This book is designed to furnish a manual of 
methods tried and proved, for Junior Christian En- 
deavor superintendents and other workers. I claim 
for them no merit of originality or grace of diction, 
but simply the merit that they have stood the test of 
experience. 

There are no theories set forth in these pages simply 
as theories. They have all been worked in many 
societies, and most of them have been tried in my own 
Junior society in the course of a good many years of 
work with and for the children. 

One cannot wander around the world, and visit 
Christian workers in many lands, without consulting 
as to plans and methods, and whenever I have read or 
heard of a plan that promised well, or have seen it tried, 
it has been my custom, '' when found, to make a note 
on," according to the suggestion of the famous Captain 
Cuttle. 

This book has been made up in no small part from 
Junior methods thus collected from many wise workers, 
who have been able to lead many children into the 
Kingdom. 

It is in the hope that these plans may in some 
way prove useful to others, that this manual of methods 
is sent out. I trust that it will be found worthy, not 

3 



4 PREFACE. 

only of casual reading, but of actual study by young 
superintendents who wish to fit themselves for that 
difficult, but most blessed and rewarding, work of 
training the boys and girls for Christ and the church. 
It will, I trust, be used as a text-book in a corre- 
spondence school and in other ways by those who wish 
to make a special study of Junior methods as they 
have been found useful in actual experience. 

Admirable helps for Junior Endeavor work have 
been furnished by Prof. Amos R. Wells, Mrs. Alice 
May Scudder, Mrs. Ella N. Wood, Miss Kate H. 
Haus, and many writers for many years in The Chris- 
Han Endeavor World, but it has been thought by 
many that there was still room for a comprehensive 
manual of Junior methods, which should cover the 
whole field of Junior work, at the same time leaving 
out methods of doubtful utility and those that can be 
used only in exceptional circumstances. 

The Junior Christian Endeavor societies are rapidly 
multiplying all over the world ; the Master is blessing 
the faithful efforts of earnest workers for the children 
along these lines ; and this phase of Christian effort 
gives promise of great and growing usefulness in the 
future. May this book add something, though ever 
so little, to the efficiency of Junior work and Junior 
workers in this wide field of Christian activity. 



Contents 

I. The Need from Which It Sprung . 7 

II. The First Junior Society .... 14 

III. The Value of the Society .... 20 

IV. The Child and the Church .... 28 
V. The Care of the Society .... 36 

VI. Junior Organization 43 

VII. Membership in the Junior Endeavor 

Society 50 

VIII. The Junior Covenant 58 

IX. The Junior Covenant (Continued) . 68 

X. The Junior Endeavor Prayer-Meeting 78 

XI. Business Meetings 87 

XII. Junior Executive Meetings .... 92 

XIII. Committee Work 97 

XIV. The Lookout Committee 103 

XV. The Prayer-Meeting Committee . . iii 

XVI. The Missionary Work of the So- 
ciety 118 

XVII. The Sunshine Committee .... 125 

5 



6 CONTENTS. 

XVIII. Other Committees 132 

XIX. Junior Finances 1 39 

XX. Junior Sociables 147 

XXI. Graduation • • i55 

XXII. Relation to the Older Society . . 162 

XXIII. Church-Membership for the Juniors, 167 

XXIV. The Juniors in Sunday-School and 

Day School 176 

XXV. The Junior Society and the Parents, 183 

XXVI. Junior Unions 189 

XXVII. World-Wide Junior Endeavor . . 197 

Appendices 205 

Index 229 



Junior Christian Endeavor. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE NEED FROM WHICH IT SPRUNG. 

The Need So Strongly Felt.— Before beginning the 
story of the formation of the first Junior Christian 
Endeavor society and the resulting world-wide organ- 
ization, and before we discuss its principles and methods, 
it is well to glance briefly at the work done for chil- 
dren in the modern church, and to consider the need 
so keenly felt a quarter of a century ago, which led to 
the formation of Christian Endeavor societies and later 
of Junior Endeavor societies. 

It has been said that the religion of Jesus Christ is 
the only religion that has a place for the children. The 
first disciples, however, seem to have had little thought 
for them until our Saviour himself taught them the 
lesson that " of such is the kingdom of heaven." After 
his resurrection one of his lasft commands to Peter was, 
** Feed my lambs." Ever since that time the church 
has borne in mind the Master's command, and has 
tried, though sometimes feebly and ineffectually, and 
often spasmodically, to obey that command. It would 
be interesting to know just what efforts Peter made to 

7 



8 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEA VOR. 

obey the command, but there is very little hint of his 
work in this direction in any of his writing, except an 
occasional message of tender love. 

The Rise of the Sunday-School. — In the modern 
church there seemed to be very little thought for 
the children until at last Robert RaikeS arose, and 
showed to the world something that might be done 
for them ; and the church finally followed his example, 
until now there are few Protestant churches that do not 
have a Sunday-school where every Sunday children 
are taught in the Word ; and many children and older 
people date the beginning of their Christian lives back 
to the time when, in the Sunday-school, a faithful 
teacher first opened to them the Scriptures, and led 
them into the love of Christ. 

The Church and the Children. — But the Sunday- 
school reaches the children for only one hour in 
the week, and its province is largely to teach ; there 
seemed to be a need for something more. After a 
time it began to dawn upon the church that the chil- 
dren might not only be taught in the Scriptures, but 
they might also be trained for Christian service ; and, 
as the years went by, various organizations were 
formed in the church with this object in view, until 
there were in many churches Mission Circles, Bands of 
Hope, Loyal Legions^ and various other children's 
organizations, all of which had for their purpose to 
enlist the children in some one branch of religious or 
philanthropic work. Many who are to-day among the 
most earnest Christian workers in the church received 
their first training in Christian service in some mission 
circle or other children's organization. And so, as the 



THE NEED FROM WHICH IT SPRUNG. 9 

nineteenth century went on into its last quarter, the 
church became more wide awake to its duty to the 
children, and was trying everywhere, in many different 
ways, to care for the lambs of the flock. 

Williston Church. — In the Williston Church, where 
the first Christian Endeavor society was formed, there 
had been from the very beginning of the church much 
time and thought given to work for the children and 
young people. Indeed, the church itself began in a 
Sabbath-school ; and a few faithful Sabbath-school 
teachers, with some of the young people who in that 
Sabbath-school had become Christians, were the first 
members from whom that church was formed. 

The Mizpah Circle. — When the first Christian 
Endeavor society was formed, there was in that 
church a large and flourishing mission circle called 
the Mizpah Circle, which had been in existence for 
five years, and which had been trying to train its 
members for Christ and the church. At this time 
there were in the Mizpah Circle some seventy or more 
members, comprising boys and girls from seven to 
seventeen. Their special object was to interest all the 
members in missions, and also in their own church, in 
which respect it differed somewhat from most mission 
circles at that time, since it did other than mission- 
ary work. 

It was the custom of the members to give every year 
a definite sum to their own missionary board, to be 
used as the board pleased ; but it was also their 
custom to do something, whenever they could, for their 
own church, and one large window in that church was 
the gift of that Mizpah Circle, whose members still 



10 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

look at it with pleasure, as they remember the days 
when as boys and girls they toiled to earn the money, 
that they might help to beautify the church. They 
also bought and presented to the church copies of the 
Psalms to be placed in every pew and used for re- 
sponsive readings, and in many little ways, as they 
were able, they tried to help their own church, as well 
as their own missionary board. In these and other 
ways the children of that mission circle were being 
trained for Christ and the church. 

But this mission circle did not seem to be doing all 
that ought to be done if Christ's command, ** Feed my 
lambs," was to be obeyed. 

Pastor's Class. — The pastor was sometimes present 
at the meeting of the Mizpah Circle, and he was well 
informed about every member of it. After the meet- 
ings of the Week of Prayer there were always some 
boys and girls among those who gave themselves to 
Christ, and the pastor felt that these boys and girls 
especially needed shepherding ; so he gathered some 
of them into a ** church-preparation class," that those 
who wanted to become Christ's professed followers 
might be ready, when their own hearts should dictate 
the step, and their parents should be willing, to enter 
intelligently and understandingly and sincerely into 
covenant with God and his people. 

Each year after the meetings of the Week of 
Prayer this pastor's class was formed, and was con- 
tinued for three or four months ; and usually by the 
first of May some of its members were ready by their 
own wish and with their parents' consent and approval 
to unite with the church. I think it was in that 



THE NEED FROM WHICH IT SPRUNG, 11 

pastor's church-preparation class that the form of the 
pledge which is now used for the Junior society was 
first used. Each member of that church-preparation 
class was invited to sign this pledge, and many of 
them did so. As used then, the pledge was, I think, 
as follows : 



*' Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for 
strength, I promise Him that I will try to do 
whatever He would like to have me do ; that 
I will pray to Him and read the Bible every 
day, and that, just so far as I know how, 
throughout my whole life I will try to lead a 
Christian Hfe." 

Signed 



When afterwards this pledge was adapted to the 
Christian Endeavor society, there was one sentence 
added to it, which was substantially as follows : 

<* I will be present at every meeting of the society 
unless prevented by some absolute necessity, and will 
take some part in every meeting." The whole Chris- 
tian Endeavor pledge as used to-day is really included 
in this shorter one that was first prepared for that little 
class of boys and girls, and whatever has been added 
since has been only for the purpose of intensifying 
and explaining the meaning of the original pledge as 
the needs of the times have seemed to demand. 

Other Methods of Work for Children.— But the 
work that was done for the children in that church 
was only a sample of the work that was being done in 



12 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEA VOR. 

many ' churches all over the laud. Everywhere the 
church seemed to be waking up to the needs of the 
boys and girls. In some churches it had begun to be 
the custom to have five-minute sermons for the chil- 
dren every Sunday morning, and in others children's 
meetings were held ; and everywhere the question was, 
What shall we do more for the children ? The follow- 
ing words, quoted from Rev. Charles Roads, since 
Junior Christian Endeavor was begun, will show some- 
thing of the feeling that had grown up in many 
churches. 

** Who does not praise God for the teachings of 
Christ concerning children ? But let us beware, lest 
we fail to get his full loving purpose concerning them. 
The Christian world is yet far from looking upon 
children with the eyes of Christ. 

<* Writing for those who are learning, though late, 
to see somewhat with the eyes of Christ, we feel the 
need of a children's meeting supplementary to the 
Sabbath-school. We have nothing but praise for the 
enthusiastic and effective labors of the faithful teach- 
ers, now the rule in our Sabbath -schools ; and the love 
for Bible-study they have patiently developed is 
largely the cause of the present extraordinary interest 
in all biblical discussions. 

'* But the Sunday-school is ever a school, with a 
school atmosphere necessarily and properly in view of 
the importance of Bible knowledge, and cannot, there- 
fore, satisfy the religious needs of the child any more 
fully than those of the adult. The Christian father 
and mother want a prayer-meeting, a testimony-meet- 
ing, and preaching; and the pecuHar spiritual help 



THE NEED FROM WHICH IT SPRUNG, 13 

which these supply, in addition to the best possible 
Sunday-school, is also needed by the child. 

" And as an easy transition to church- fellowship 
the children's meeting has an important place. . . . 
With due sense of the necessity of more direct and 
systematic work for the conversion and training of 
children, some time will always be found for the httle 
company to gather. 

" The church is coming profoundly to believe in the 
reality and power of a child's conversion, and in the 
clearness and joy of his salvation. The children's 
meeting is to deal specially with this young religious 
life, and to bring the child into actual church-fellow- 
ship by easy stages. 

" Under ten years of age lifelong impressions are un- 
questionably made. Every adult has personal experi- 
ence of some such impression. Shall we not, then, 
surround the child with the sunniest and most power- 
ful spiritual influence ? Moral and mental habits are 
begun and in building. Up with our scaffolding, and 
see that the soul is erected after heavenly drawings 
and plans." 

Questions for Review. 

(a) What was the church doing for the children before 
the Christian Endeavor societies were organized ? 

(^b) What was the Mizpah Circle ? 

(c) What organizations for children were in the church ? 

(ji) Describe the pastor's church-preparation class in 
Williston Church. 



CHAPTER 11. 

THE FIRST JUNIOR SOCIETY. 

Juniors in the First Christian Endeavor Society^ — 

When the first Christian Endeavor society was formed, 
it had a place in its ranks for the boys and girls. 
Nearly half of those who were its first members 
came from the ranks of the Mizpah Circle, and were 
between the ages of twelve and fifteen. They took 
part in the meetings with the others, and were given 
some work to do for Christ. Of course, the whole 
society was an experiment, and it was not thought 
wise to try two experiments at once ; so there was no 
separate organization for the boys and girls, but the 
first Christian Endeavor society was almost as much a 
Junior as a Young People's society. 

The Christian Endeavor society was formed for the 
sake of training up the young people in these two 
cardinal principles : confession of Christ, and service 
for Christ. The Mizpah Circle had done a good work 
for the boys and girls, and they were all happy in their 
work ; but it was felt that the new organization might 
wisely open its doors to them, and lead them into 
larger and higher service ; that, while they were being 
trained to work for missions and for their own church, 
yet this new society might teach them all that, and 
also much more of Christian living and Christian serv- 
ice. In the new organization they would get a broader 

14 



TBE FIRST JUNIOR SOCIETY. 15 

training for all branches of Christian work, and it was 
felt that these things ought we to do, and not to leave 
the others undone ; so the Christian Endeavor society- 
opened wide its doors, and the boys and girls of the 
Mizpah Circle walked in, and soon led in other boys 
and girls. 

Origin and Growth of Junior Societies. — In other 
churches where societies were formed the same thing 
happened, till in many churches all over the land boys 
and girls and young men and women were being 
trained together for Christ and his church. But as 
the years went by, as the societies increased and their 
membership increased, and as their plans and methods 
of work became more fully developed, it was seen that 
there was not the opportunity to do for the children 
all that ought to be done. Many churches had held 
children's meetings of various kinds, and it was found 
that not only the older boys and girls, but even the 
little ones, were glad to come to these meetings ; and 
at last some one ventured to form a Christian Endeavor 
society simply for boys and girls, a society which 
should take in the little ones, and also keep the older 
boys and girls till they should be old enough to take 
hold more effectively of the work of the Young Peo- 
ple's society. 

Early Junior Societies. — It has been generally be- 
lieved that the first distinctively Junior society called 
by that name was organized by Rev. J. W. Cowan of 
Tabor, Iowa, though others say that Rev. Mr. Savage 
of Berkeley, California, and others, that Mrs. Slocum 
of Iowa, formed the first so-called Junior society 
of Christian Endeavor. . It is not easy at this late day to 



16 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

be sure which one was first in the field; but, be that as 
it may, it is certain that at about the year 1884 there 
were many looking about for some better and more 
definitely practical way of training the children for the 
service of Christ, and at about the same time several 
distinct Junior societies were organized, not far apart 
in time, though somewhat widely separated geograph- 
ically. 

Object of a Junior Society. — The object of the 
Junior society was the same as that of the first Chris- 
tian Endeavor society, of which it was an outgrowth ; 
it was " to promote an earnest Christian life among its 
members, and to prepare them for the active service of 
Christ " ; and they all adopted substantially the same 
form of pledge as that used by the pastor's class of 
Williston Church in Portland, the same pledge that is^ 
used in Junior societies to-day. 

Its Development and Success. — Of course the first 
Junior society, like the first Christian Endeavor so- 
ciety, was an experiment ; but the part already taken 
by the boys and girls in the Young People^s societies 
made the success of the Juniors scarcely problematical. 
The societies in Tabor, Iowa, and Berkeley, California, 
and the other early societies, proved to be not only 
popular with the children, but very helpful as a means 
of reaching the boys and girls and leading them while 
young into the love and service of Christ. 

As the months went by, it was seen also that those 
who as children were so trained in Christian Hving 
and Christian service might properly be expected to 
become the best and most efficient workers in the 
older society when they should be ready for it ; and, 



THE FIRST JUNIOR SOCIETY. 17 

as the years have gone by, that has proved to be the 
case in thousands of societies all the world around. 

The First Junior Rally. — These first societies were 
soon copied by their neighbors, and soon there were 
many Junior societies in America. At the Christian 
Endeavor Convention in Montreal, in the year 1893, 
there were so many Junior societies in existence that 
it was thought that there ought to be a children's hour 
in the great convention. Accordingly a time was set 
apart, and a children's service was held in one of the 
largest churches in that city. This service was found 
so helpful to the children and so interesting to their 
elders that it has been continued ever since, and now 
at every national convention, I think in every country, 
there is always a Junior rally. These Junior rallies at 
the State and national conventions have helped to call 
the attention also of those churches which had no 
such society, to the work for the children, and now 
these Junior societies have also multiplied and spread 
into all parts of the world till there are to-day more 
than sixteen thousand Junior societies in all the world. 

What It Has Done for Children. — Before we go on 
to talk of the work of the Society more in detail it 
may be well to speak of some things it has done for 
the boys and girls of the world since the first Junior 
society was started, and perhaps from these results we 
shall be able to see more plainly the value of a sepa- 
rate organization for the boys and girls. 

If the church committees all over our land could be 
consulted as to the children who have come into the 
church-membership in the last two decades, and how 
they have been brought into the church, I believe that 



18 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

we should find that the answer to the question, " When 
do you think you became a Christian ? '' will often be, 
as I have heard it given myself in many cases, " I 
think it was when I first signed the Junior pledge," 
** I think it was in one of our Junior Endeavor meet- 
ings," ** I think it was in one of our little Junior after- 
meetings that I gave myself to Christ." Perhaps no 
one can tell all of the influences that have brought 
any one person into church-membership and into the 
active Christian life, but without doubt it can be shown 
that one strong influence that has helped many chil- 
dren into the Kingdom has been the Junior Endeavor 
Society. If it had done nothing else in these years 
than this, it would have fully justified its existence. 

But, more than this, it has trained children in the 
expression of their Christian life. 

It has trained them in Christian service. Many 
boys and girls have learned that loving Christ means 
living for Christ, being willing to give time and 
thought to his service. It has so trained them that 
many of them have in these twenty years become very 
efficient workers in the older society. 

It has proved that it is as well worth while to train 
the children in Christian living and in the Christian 
graces as in music and the celebrated " three R's," and 
in gymnastic?. 

It has proved itself in many ways a valuable indus- 
trial training-school for the church; training the chil- 
dren not only in missions or temperance, but in 
missions and in temperance and also in Christian Hv- 
ing and Christian service in many directions. 

Look to-day into the membership of any church 



THE FIRST JUNIOR SOCIETY, 19 

which has for several years had a Junior Endeavor 
society, and you will be hkely to find among its most 
earnest young members those who through the Junior 
society have been brought into the Kingdom and 
trained for service there. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) What place was there for children in the first 

Christian Endeavor society ? 

(b) What was the origin and object of the first Junior 

society ? 
(^) Where were some of the early Junior societies? 
{d) Tell of the development of the society and its 

growth in America. 
( ^ ) When did the Juniors first have a part in a national 

convention ? 
(/) What are some things the society has done for the 

children ? 



CHAPTER III. 

THE VALUE OF THE SOCIETY. 

The Children's Age. — This has sometimes been 
called the Children's Age. It is the age of child-cul- 
ture and child-study, of kindergartens and day nur- 
series and cradle rolls, and of children's clubs ; and it 
sometimes seems as though a very large part of the 
thought of the world is given to the proper develop- 
ment and training of the child's nature, until the very 
children themselves come to feel that they are of great 
importance and value in the world. All these things 
are good, and it is well that th'e world is awake to the 
needs of the children; yet, with all the care and 
thought that are given to the children, there are in 
their education and training neglected corners that 
ought to be cultivated. 

The Children's Education. — Our children go to 
school for five hours a day for five days in the week to 
study geography and grammar and arithmetic and 
other books, and then they go for an hour on Sunday 
to the Sabbath-school, and we think we are training 
them well. 

In too many Christian homes children are taught to 
feel that the one most important thing for them while 
they are children is their education, and the inference 
is that education means only the education that they 
can get in the day-school. But what about their edu- 

20 



TEE VALUE OF THE SOCIETY. 21 

cation in the Bible, and in Christian service, and in the 
duties of the Christian Hfe ? How much time do the 
children give to these things ? Too often they are 
taught to feel that these are of secondary importance ; 
that they 7nus^ go to school every day, rain or shine ; 
that no slight thing is to keep them away ; that there 
is no excuse for failure in their lessons ; their lessons 
7nust be learned ; that is for them the important thing. 
But how is it when Sunday morning comes ? Are 
they taught that they must be in God's house at the 
morning service; that no small reason should keep 
them away ; that their Sunday-school lesson must be 
at least as carefully prepared as their geography les- 
son ; that their presence in the church prayer-meeting 
should be the regular and expected thing, if they are 
old enough to go out in the evening, just as much as 
their presence at their day-school? Too often these 
things are allowed to take care of themselves, and a 
much smaller excuse is allowed to keep a child at home 
from the church service or the prayer-meeting or the 
Sunday-school than would keep him at home from the 
day-school. 

Manual Training. — We think it worth while, too, 
that our children should learn to work with their 
hands, and manual training has come to have a very 
important place in the education of our children. 
There are sloyd classes in many of our large cities, 
and every boy in many grammar schools is allowed 
two years or more of this manual training if he 
wishes it. There are sewing-classes, too, for the girls ; 
and in some places there are whittling-classes for both 
boys and girls, where they are taught to do very good 



22 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

work with their pocket-knives. Now all this manual 
training is very good, but why not also apply this 
same theory to their training in Christian living ? Why 
not train them also in Christian work, and help them 
to realize that this is even a more important part of 
their education than anything else they can do ? Why 
is it that in so many of our churches the number of 
those upon whom the pastor can rely to do the work 
of the church is only a very small proportion of the 
membership of the church ? Is it not because they 
have not been trained in Christian service? They 
have never been taught to feel that Christian living 
means Christian service. 

Training in Christian Service. — Are we not teach- 
ing and educating our children up to a very high 
standard of literary culture and forgetting to teach 
them to seek first the kingdom of God and his right- 
eousness ? The Junior Endeavor society is an attempt 
to look after these neglected corners in the education 
of the children, and to help them to put first things 
first. It is a kind of manual training-school of the 
church, where the children are taught to put into prac- 
tice the truths that they have learned in the Sunday- 
school. They are taught the first principles of Chris- 
tian living and Christian service. The whole work of 
the Junior society is to lead the children to Christ and 
train them to work for him. 

Objections. — When Junior societies began to multi- 
ply in the land, objections to them quickly arose and 
multiplied also. It was said that children could not 
wisely take part in a prayer-meeting, that it would 
make little prigs of them, that they would be insincere, 



THE VALUE OF THE SOCIETY. 23 

that they would learn to use words without meaning 
them, that the *' glib " and forward children would have 
their faults increased, and that it could only be harm- 
ful to all children to be taught to speak and pray in 
meeting like their elders. 

There were not wanting, too, those who said that 
their children were too busy with other things ; that 
their education was for them the first and most im- 
portant thing ; that the object of that was to fit them 
for service ; that, when their powers were developed and 
trained, and they were thoroughly educated, then they 
would be ready to take their place in the church life 
and work. Then there were endless objections to the 
covenant, and to the foolishness of asking children to 
promise what they never could perform ; it was said 
that they would make promises only to break them, 
and it was wrong to ask it of them. All these and 
many more objections were brought up frequently and 
almost vociferously. 

Answers to Objections. — The Society itself has an- 
swered these objections as the years have gone on. It 
has not raised up a generation of precocious prigs. It 
has not developed insincerity, if one may judge by the 
lives as well as by the words of the boys and girls who 
have graduated from these Junior societies in many 
churches ; and I believe that, if the record could be 
made, it would be found that the children who have 
taken the active member's covenant would be found to 
have kept it much more faithfully than some church- 
members have kept the vows they made when they 
united with the church. The best answer to these ob- 
jections is the Society itself and the work it has done 



24 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

for the children. Choose a wise, winning, and tactful 
superintendent ; give her all the help and counsel in 
her work you can ; and then watch the results of her 
work with the children, and these objections will an- 
swer themselves. But, though there is space here only 
for this simple answer to these objections, yet each one 
will be taken up more thoroughly in later chapters, 
where they will naturally arise again under other 
headings. 

Objections from Other Organizations. — From the 
beginning the Society has had many difificulties to 
contend with. Many have been found to object and 
criticise and few to help and counsel. Even those 
who might have welcomed it because of sympathy in 
aims have held aloof and have feared that it would 
interfere with their own missionary or temperance 
work. One difficulty that has arisen in many churches 
has been from the multitude of organizations that ex- 
isted already. 

It has been said, " We have now too many children's 
organizations ; there is no room for another." Yet 
those who have made these objections have not real- 
ized that this new society might obviate their diffi- 
culties instead of increasing them. For, instead of 
adding a new organization to the number that was al- 
ready too great, it has taken all these others under its 
roof; and instead of having a few children interested 
in missions, and a few others at work for temperance 
or in benevolent work, it has gathered them all into 
one society, and has set them all at work for mis- 
sions and temperance and other good works, and 
has tried to lead them all up to the highest motive 



THE VALUE OF THE SOCIETY. 25 

for doing all these things, — love to Christ and his 
church. 

Junior Superintendents. — There has also been the 
difficulty of finding suitable persons to take charge of 
the society. This is not an easy work to do. It is 
not a position that would ever be coveted by those 
who would be at ease in Zion. It involves much 
labor and time and thought, and much of criticism 
where one might expect sympathy and help. The 
Junior superintendents do not receive salaries. It is 
hard work. Their one reward is in the consciousness 
of service done and the pleasure that always comes in 
working for the Master, and many of these superin- 
tendents will receive the reward promised to those 
who have done it " unto one of the least of these." 
Many churches are to-day without a Junior society 
because a superintendent cannot be found. The chil- 
dren are ready, but there is no one to lead them. 

Training for Junior Work. — One great need of our 
churches to-day is the need of willing workers with 
skill and tenderness and tact, who have themselves had 
careful education and training in work for children. 
Why should there not be normal schools for training 
in this work just as well as for the training of teachers 
in the day-schools ? There are some who are willing, 
but are not sufficiently well equipped for this service. 
Why should there not be in every church a training- 
school where those who would be glad to work for the 
children should themselves be trained especially for 
this service ? This is to-'day perhaps the greatest diffi- 
culty in the way of the Junior Endeavor societies that 
might be started in many churches. Trained, tactful, 



26 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

winsome Junior superintendents are needed; and, 
when they are found and trained, the children will be 
found ready. 

But, though the Junior Endeavor Society has had 
to meet criticism and objections, though it has had 
many difificulties to contend with, yet it has made its 
way, and there has been a steady increase in the num- 
ber of societies, as the years have shown what it is 
doing for the children. 
yj Many churches and Young People's societies will 
/ testify that among their most valued Christian work- 
ers they count those who have had their training in 
the Junior society. I do not say that every child who 
has been a member of the Junior society has become 
such a valued worker, or that every society has ac- 
complished all that was hoped and expected from it. 
It is as true now as it was in the days of the apostles 
that there are diversities of gifts, but it is also true 
that there is the same Spirit, and in a large measure it 
will be found true in many churches that the Junior 
Endeavor society is doing a valuable work for the 
children that the church was not doing in any other 
way, and a work that needed to be done. 

Children as Church-Members. — In many churches 
children had been brought into church-membership, 
but there the church had stopped. Just when the 
children most needed her fostering care the church 
seemed to have failed in her trust, and very little in 
the way of guidance and training in the Christian life 
had been given to the children. Sometimes, indeed, 
it almost seemed that they had been left to feel that, 
when they were once in the church, it was all done, 



THE VALUE OF TEE SOCIETY. 27 

and there was no further upward step for them to 
take. 

It was for such a time as this that the Junior En- 
deavor Society came to the kingdom ; that the children 
might not only be brought into the church but that 
they might be trained for service there; that they 
might know that church-membership brought with it 
greater responsibilities and greater opportunities, and 
that the step into church-membership was only one 
step in the Christian life, which should lead the way 
into further and higher service. 

Questions for Review. 

{a) What is the present age sometimes called, and why ? 

{b) What is most important for children ? 

{c) What is the object of the Junior Endeavor Society ? 

(^/) What difficulties has it had to contend with? 

(d') What objections have been raised against it ? 

(/) Have any of the results sought for been accom- 
plished ? 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE CHILD AND THE CHURCH. 

Preparation for Church-Membership. — Most of our 
churches have come to believe that there is a place in 
their midst for the child. They believe in child-con- 
version ; and, when a child seeks admission to the 
church, the door is usually opened wide if there is 
good reason to believe that he has really given him- 
self to Christ and is willing, so far as he understands 
it, to dedicate his life to Christ's service. But in many 
cases the church has done little or nothing to prepare 
the children for church-membership. The Junior so- 
ciety tries to help in doing this work for the church. 
The wise superintendent will not knowingly allow her 
Juniors to enter the church without having done what 
she can to help them to understand the step they are 
taking, and to prepare them for it, and will guard 
them and care for them so far as possible after they 
are in the church, that they may go forward into fuller 
and larger Christian living. Just how this work may 
be done in an individual society will be suggested in 
a later chapter. Here it can only be stated that in 
many societies it is known that this work is wisely 
and prayerfully carried on by consecrated leaders who 
are trying to do all they can for the children who have 
put themselves under their guidance. 

28 



THE CHILD AND THE CHURCH. 29 

The Children's Place in the Church. — The church 
needs the children in her membership. The church 
family cannot be what it should be without the chil- 
dren any more than a home that has no children can 
be all that a happy home might be. The church 
needs to feel its responsibility for the children, and it 
needs the help and inspiration that the work of train- 
ing the children brings. It needs, too, the service 
that the children can give. For there are many bits 
of Christian work that the children can do, and the 
church that gives no opportunity for the service that 
children can render has failed of its highest mission. 

The Church's Duty to the Children.— The chil- 
dren, too, need and should expect the help that the 
church can give. Christian parents should of course 
feel the greatest responsibility for their own children, 
and nothing can take the place of home training in 
the religious life as well as in every-day living and 
thinking. But what of the children who are not 
blessed with Christian parents ; who learn nothing of 
the Christian Hfe in their own homes ; whose parents 
take the Sabbath morning for their Sunday paper and 
for extra sleep, and the afternoon perhaps for a Sun- 
day excursion ? What is to be done for these chil- 
dren, and what for those whose parents feel that their 
whole duty is done if they have dressed their children 
and sent them off to Sabbath-school ; who feel that 
they can then shirk the responsibility for their chil- 
dren's instruction in the Bible, and trust it wholly to 
the Sunday-school teachers ? 

There is a large work that the church can and should 
do for the children ; for those even who have Chris- 



30 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

tian training at home, and much more for those who 
seem to have no one to care for their souls. The 
children have a right to expect that the church of 
Christ shall care for them and lead them into right 
paths. This the church is trying to do by her Sun- 
day-schools, by her Children's Sunday, by her Junior 
Endeavor societies and other work for children ; tak- 
ing them in, and guiding and teaching and training 
them. 

A Junior Society in Every Church. — But it may be 
asked. Does every church need a Junior Endeavor so- 
ciety? Are there not other ways of training and 
guiding the children just as effectively? To this it 
may be answered that the one important thing is to 
see that this work is done for the children. If the 
church is already doing it in a better way, by all means 
let it be known, and many other churches will be glad 
to know of better methods. But, if the church is not 
doing this work, if there is not a place in the church 
where all the children of the church will feel them- 
selves welcome, if the children are not being trained 
in Christian living, if no one in the church is making 
a systematic and consecrated attempt to gather in all 
the children of the church, and to lead them into the 
Kingdom, and to teach them how to work for Christ, 
then that church which is not already doing this in a 
better way ought to have a Junior Endeavor society. 

If in any church there is really need of a Christian 
Endeavor society for the young people, then in that 
same church there should also be a place for a Junior 
society. If the training that a Christian Endeavor 
society gives is good for the young people, much more 



THE CHILD AND THE CHURCH. 31 

is it needed for the chiidren. Why wait till they are 
young men and women before you begin to train 
them for service ? As well say : " We will wait till 
they are fifteen or sixteen before we begin to teach 
them arithmetic or geography. Instruction and book- 
learning are good for young men and women, but we 
will not give it to the children until they are able to 
grasp it and understand it." If it is important to be- 
gin their school education when they are little chil- 
dren, much more is it important to educate them in 
the things of the Kingdom while they are young. 
/ The Juniors and the Y. P. S. C. E.— Moreover, the 
X. older society needs the Junior society. The young 
men and women are growing older every day, and 
should naturally expect, as the years go by, to graduate 
from the ranks of the Young People's society into the 
life and the larger work of the church. Who shall 
take their place in the Young People's society but 
those who have been trained from childhood in the 
Junior society, and may therefore be expected to be 
ready to do good work in the older society ? 

It is said that one who wishes to reach a large de- 
gree of excellence on the piano should begin very 
young, while the fingers are flexible, and should give 
very careful practice as a little child if the best results 
are to be attained. But which is of more importance, 
to do good work on the piano or to do good work for 
Christ in the world ? Should not the same principle 
hold true in this larger and more important w^ork? 
Does it not follow as a natural sequence that, if the 
church needs a, Christian Endeavor society for its 
young people, it also needs a Junior society for the 



32 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

children ? It follows, then, like the parts of a syl- 
logism : 

Every church ought to lead the children into the 
Christian Hfe and train them for service. 

If the church is not doing this work in a better way, 
it ought to do it through the Junior Endeavor society 
until a better way is found. 

Most churches are not doing this work in any other 
way ; therefore in most churches there is need of a 
Junior Endeavor society. 

Other Organizations. — But it may be said that many 
churches are already doing so much for the children 
through other organizations that there is no room for 
another. The children are already being trained to 
work for missions or for temperance through mission 
circles. Loyal Legions, and other organizations ; and 
all this is work for Christ, and will naturally lead them 
to loving Christ. But, though this theory sounds true, 
and is true in a measure, yet, when put to the test of 
actual results, it proves to be true onlj/ in a measure. 
As a matter of fact, the children in these mission 
circles develop a certain zeal in collecting money for 
foreign missions, sometimes also for home missions, 
but perhaps not quite as often, and a certain interest 
in foreign missions; but very little time and thought 
are spent in teaching them the common Christian 
virtues of obedience, truthfulness, unselfishness, and 
willingness to show their love to Christ by their lives 
at home. 

And so with the temperance and other organi- 
zations. The attention of the children is turned 
largely to one phase of the Christian life, and they are 



THE CHILD AND THE CHURCH. 33 

not trained in the whole theory and practice of Chris- 
tian living. They need to be brought to Christ first 
and foremost, and then taught that real love to Christ 
must certainly find expression in their lives at home 
and abroad, and in their work for others and for the 
church. This is what the Junior Endeavor society 
has for its declared purpose, and what no other of 
these organizations pretends to attempt. Look at 
their constitutions, and you will find their declared 
purpose to be to raise money for missions or tem- 
perance, and to interest as many as possible in that 
work. 

All of these objects are good, and much has been 
accomplished by them, which has indirectly stimulated 
and helped the Christian lives of many children ; but 
they are by their own declarations attempting only a 
part of the work that ought to be done for the children. 

The following quotations from Miss Kate Haus, a 
well-known worker for children, who has been instru- 
mental in leading many little ones into the fold, will 
show sonaething of the distinguishing feature of the 
Junior Endeavor Society which differentiates it from 
all other organizations in the church, and makes it plain 
that it should supplement the work that other organi- 
zations in the church are doing. In some of our 
churches all of this work can much better be done by 
this one organization working for all the children, and 
by its means more children may be interested in 
missions, in temperance, and in benevolent and phil- 
anthropic work, and at the same time in the Christian 
life, than by having two or three separate organi- 
zations. In other churches, where the membership is 



34 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

large and the workers many, there may be room for 
these organizations to work side by side. Each church 
must decide for itself how it can best help the children 
in the midst of it, but in some way this broader and 
larger work ought to be done. But here is the opinion 
of this Christian worker who has led so many children 
into the fold : it ought to be carefully weighed by those 
who would do the best thing for the boys and girls 
under their care. 

*' To be able to hold the individual child after he has 
reached the age between childhood and youth is the 
place where so many of our Sabbath-schools fail to 
succeed. Children begin to feel their importance in 
the world about that time, and as there is nothing for 
them to do, as a rule, in the school, but attend, they 
drop out. The church sometimes gathered the youth 
and the child into its fold ; but there it stopped, and 
felt itself powerless to do anything more, because it 
did not realize that there was a work for even the 
youngest member to do therein. Sent by God, the 
All-wise, the Christian Endeavor Society came to the 
rescue, and behold, the church found that it had a 
powerful force in its midst, and, setting it to work, great 
and wonderful have been the results. 

" So, dear friends, this Junior Society of Christian 
Endeavor comes to you to-day, the last-born of God's 
blessings, intended to be used in gathering, saving, and 
educating the children for Christ and the church ; and 
I pray you do not put it aside, saying, ' We have 
enough blessings ; this is superfluous.' There is no 
organization superfluous that will help save a human 
soul and fit it for God's work here and for his home 



THE CHILD AND THE CHURCH 35 

above. Welcome it with open arms; bid it God- 
speed ; do all that you can to help it on its way. Give 
it a place in your church home, your Sabbath-school, 
your heart of hearts, and, above all, a prominent place 
in your earnest prayers. It is that blessed baby that 
keeps all the other members of the family in sympathy 
with one another ; and so it is the Junior Christian 
Endeavor Society that will keep the church in sym- 
pathy with the child, the youth, and all fresh young 
life. Welcome it as one of the watchguards that the 
Lord has placed in your midst to help you guide the 
footsteps of your little ones in the right path, and to 
make them strong to battle against the temptations 
that beset them on every side." 

In a later chapter suggestions will be given as to 
how these organizations may supplement and help 
each other. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) What is the children's place in the church, and 

who shall prepare them for it ? 
( ^ ) Why does the church need the children ? 
( <: ) What may the children expect from the church ? 
(^) Why does every church need a Junior society ? 
{e) If a church already has other societies, does it need 

a Junior Endeavor society ? 
(/) What distinguishes Junior Endeavor societies from 

all other organizations ? 



CHAPTER V. 

THE CARE OF THE SOCIETY. 

The Leader. — In considering the formation of a 
Junior Endeavor society, the first questions that arise 
are : " Who shall have the care of this society ? To 
whom shall we intrust this training of the children ? 
Is there any one in our church who is fitted for this 
work, and, if there is such a one, is she not probably 
already too busy in Christian work to undertake any- 
thing else ? " 

This difficulty of finding a leader is the greatest one 
that has arisen in all the history of the Society, and it 
has seemed in many churches to be an insurmountable 
difficulty; and this is their only reason for having 
no society for the children. The boys and girls are 
ready, but there is no one to lead them. 

But surely there is something wrong in the Chris- 
tian church of to-day if it is true that the children are 
ready and waiting to come into the Kingdom, and 
there is no one to lead them in. Surely the Master 
says to us to-day, not simply, ** Suffer the children to 
come unto me," but, " Lead the children unto me." 

How to Find a Superintendent. — But how shall we 
find a superintendent, and who shall it be ? It seems 
as though an angel were needed when we think of all 
the wisdom and tenderness and tact that are necessary 
for such a work as this. Some one has said, " Truly, 

36 



THE CARE OF THE SOCIETY. 37 

it would be an angel's work, but since we are not 
angels, and are not likely to find any in our churches, 
we must use the best material we have ; and we shall 
find it is true again that ability is developed by serv- 
ice." Choose, then, for your Junior superintendent 
some one who has a great love for children and knows 
how to talk with them and help them, one, too, who 
is wise and winning and gifted. The work is worthy 
the best talent in the church, and the best person 
available should be secured ; but, if for any reason the 
very best talent cannot be secured, then take the next 
best. ** It is better that the work should be attempted, 
done in some way, than not to attempt it at all." 

A worker in Australia who has studied this problem 
writes as follows : 

The Ideal Superintendent.—'* The ideal superin- 
tendent is one whose heart is sufiTused with Christ's 
love for little folk, and whose face is the playground 
for sunny smiles, who is both patient and persistent, 
with common sense enough not to lose her way in by- 
paths, and yet with ingenuity enough to keep out of 
ruts, who combines in her work speed with smooth- 
ness, who is both musical and methodical, and who 
has learned the meaning of that small and unaccom- 
modating word ' brief! Where is this worthy person 
to be found ? Well, lacking the ideal superintendent, 
let us take it for granted we shall not find the ideal 
society. What, then, are we to do ? Simply this : 
we must bring the real much nearer the ideal. 

" Professor Jowett says : ' Difficulties may surround 
us ; but, if they be not in ourselves, they may be 
overcome.' 



38 JUNIOR CHBISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

" Alas ! our greatest difficulties are in ourselves. A 
great deal more fitness is called for and is within their 
reach. My protest is not against mediocrity, but 
against people who do not see that they must make up 
for lack of genius by giving all diligence to justify 
their calling to high and responsible offices. 

" The common sense of Christian Endeavor is that 
it enfranchises people with slender resources of gifts, 
but its covenant words — * strive,' * try,' * endeavor,' 
* do ' — lay vows upon us to overtake by consecrated 
industry the leeway of our adverse start in life. ' A 
man's real momentum is the product of his talents 
multiplied by his industry.' 

" Suppose the natural gifts of a Junior superintend- 
ent may be represented by ten and her industry by 
two, she will not beat her neighbor whose genius is 
represented by two and her industry by ten. Dr. 
Arnold says, * The difference between one boy and 
another is not so much in talent as in energy,' and 
those who have the oversight of our Junior work 
know that the difference between one superintend- 
ent and another Hes not so much in talent as in 
energy." 

Consider these words ; and, while you look in your 
own church for the best talent for this work, look also 
for energy and industry. 

It must be remembered, too, that sometimes this 
same example in addition may be worked out in a dif- 
ferent way. For instance, if there is in your church 
some one whose concentrated energy and ability may 
be represented by two, there may be another one 
whose ability and energy are represented by eight ; add 



THE CARE OF THE SOCIETY. 39 

these two together, and perhaps the result will be the 
ideal superintendent. 

'* You may perhaps find three people whose fitness 
for the work may be represented by three and two and 
five, and these three added together will bring the 
same answer." In other words, if there is no one in 
your church who can undertake the work alone, it 
may be that there are two or three or even four who 
can undertake the work together, and in the united 
efforts of these three or four there may be found more 
real fitness for the work than any one would possess. 

More than One Superintendent. — Only see to it 
that they work together, not independently. Let 
them divide the work and the responsibility, but all 
should share in planning the work, so that it may fit 
together. I know of one society where three super- 
intendents work very harmoniously and helpfully to- 
gether, and their different gifts fit into one another so 
helpfully that the work is probably done much better 
than any one of them would do it alone. But it is 
their habit to hold frequent consultations together, 
planning the meetings perhaps for a month in advance, 
taking turns in conducting the meeting and feeling the 
whole responsibility for only one meeting in three, but 
planning to be present if possible at every meeting, 
and to help in any small ways as needed ; thus they 
keep in touch with the work that the others are do- 
ing, and, knowing each week just what was said and 
done in the last meeting, can make the next one sup- 
plement it wisely. 

In some churches the minister finds himself able to 
take charge of this work, and, where he can do it, he 



40 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

finds himself helped in many ways in his own work 
for the church, for no minister can be in close touch 
with the Christian lives of the children without know- 
ing better how to help their parents. 

The Pastor and the Children. — In many churches, 
however, the minister feels that he is not fitted for this 
work, or that he has not time for it. In that case the 
superintendent must, so far as possible, keep him in- 
formed about the work and about the spiritual condi- 
tion of the children, and call upon him occasionally 
for help in leading the children as opportunity offers. 

The superintendent is sometimes chosen by the 
pastor and elders of the church, and sometimes it is 
left to the Young People's society to choose from their 
ranks some one who shall fill this ofifice, and their 
choice is ratified by the church. In any case it 
should of course be with the sanction and approval of 
the church that the superintendent is appointed. 

But it may be said that in some churches there 
seems to be no one qualified to do this work, and it is 
not even possible to find two or three who will share 
it. What then shall be done ? It is indeed a deplor- 
able thing if there is no one in the church who is 
willing even to attempt to lead the children into the 
Kingdom, but even so the case should not be con- 
sidered hopeless. 

If there is no one in the church fitted to be a Junior 
superintendent, manufacture one. In other words, fit 
some one for the position. It is possible to train up 
Christian workers for this position. The Correspond- 
ence-School, for which this book is meant to supply a 
text-book, it is believed is an efficient means of train- 



TEE CARE OF THE SOCIETY, 41 

ing Junior superintendents, and giving them the 
necessary technique of the work. Indeed, I see no 
reason why the time should not come when there 
should be in every church a training-school, where 
there should always be some one in training for the 
position of Junior superintendent and also for work 
in the Sunday-school and in the older Endeavor so- 
ciety. Appoint in the Young People's society a 
Junior committee, choosing those who by their win- 
ning ways seem suited to work for children, and then 
through their work in the older society, and perhaps 
by special counsel from the pastor or some older 
worker and by reading the literature on the subject, 
they may after a time be fitted to undertake this work. 
Preparation for Junior Work. — A good prepara- 
tion for undertaking this work would be to connect 
one's self with the nearest Junior superintendents' 
union. In some States in connection with the State 
conventions Junior workers' institutes are held, where 
real help and training are given. In most Junior 
superintendents' unions, too, there are very helpful 
discussions on questions of methods and work that 
will be very helpful to one who is contemplating this 
work. But perhaps the very best preparation that can 
be made is to prepare one's self. Given, energy, 
consecration, and a desire to help the children, and a 
superintendent can do much to fit herself for the po- 
sition. Study the subject carefully. Read all the 
literature on the subject you can get. Attend some 
meetings of other Junior societies, especially those 
that you know are conducted by efficient, consecrated 
workers. Learn something from the mistakes that 



42 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

other superintendents make, as well as from the wise 
things they do. Consecrate your ingenuity. When 
you see any new plan tried, or read of it, consider 
whether exactly that plan or some variation of it will 
most effectively help your own society. Attend the 
Junior conference at your next State convention, and 
you will learn much that will help. 

Prayer as Preparation. — But, above all, be much 
in prayer. Ask the Father himself to prepare you 
for this work. Set yourself to do it for Him, Re- 
solve to make it your first aim to help the children to 
be Christians. Pray for grace to set them yourself an 
example of the Christian life you would like to see 
them living ; and then, with your heart full of the 
love of Christ and love of the children, begin the 
work, trusting in Jesus for strength and wisdom to do 
it wisely and earnestly and energetically. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) Who should be at the head of the Junior society ? 

\b') How shall the superintendent be chosen ? 

( ^ ) Should there be more than one superintendent ? 

( ^) What preparation should the superintendent make 

for this work ? 

( ^ ) What qualifications should a superintendent have ? 

(/) How can a Junior superintendent be found? 



CHAPTER VI. 

JUNIOR ORGANIZATION. 

Organized Work for Children. — It may be thought 
by some that children are not capable of being organ- 
ized for rehgious work, that they are too young and 
inexperienced, and that anything of this sort cannot 
rightfully be expected or allowed. 

Yet, when one remembers all the organizations for 
other purposes to which children belong, why should 
it be thought a thing incredible that they can also be 
organized for religious work? There are children's 
clubs of various kinds, musical clubs and literary clubs 
and Boys* Republics, and it has been found that chil- 
dren through these organizations can do efficient work 
together. But these various clubs and societies are 
all of them for the benefit of the children themselves. 
Why, then, should they nqt also be taught to do 
organized work for Christ and his church, and thus 
learn something of the value and pleasure of unselfish 
work for others ? 

The Purpose of All Education — And it is true 
that children need this training certainly as much as 
they need training in other branches of work. If it 
is worth while to give our children training in sloyd, 
and in cooking-schools and whittling-classes, and to 
have them spend hours in practising on the piano or 

43 



44 JUNIOB CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

violin or mandolin, that they may be fitted for the 
work they must do in the world, is it not also worth 
while to have them spend some time every week in 
doing work for Christ ? But we need to ask ourselves 
once in a while, What are we in the world for ? Who 
brought us into this world, and what does he want us 
to do here? Just what is it that the children are to 
be fitted for? What are their place and their work 
in the world ? Surely all Christian parents must feel 
that their children have a work to do for Christ in the 
world ; and, since that work is more important than 
any other work that they can do in the world, and 
since it needs more careful preparation and more skill 
and tact in the doing, it is plain that they should be 
taught and trained to do it. 

Advantage of Working Together. — Most parents 
feel that they cannot wisely or properly train their 
children in music, in arithmetic, and in grammar 
themselves, but that their children will learn faster 
*and do their work better if they are taught and 
trained in companies ; and so schools have been 
formed, where thirty or forty or fifty children can be 
taught together. It has been found in many churches 
that the same principle holds true ; that children 
learn more easily, quickly, and happily together ; and 
that in some ways they teach one another. 

The many Junior Endeavor societies that have 
already been formed have shown by their results not 
only that children need organization for religious 
work, but that they enjoy it, and that in this way they 
learn while they are boys and girls how to take their 
own little share of the work of the church, and so 



JUNIOR ORGANIZATION. 45 

grow up into their own place in the hfe and work of 
their own church as a matter of course. One reason 
why it is sadly true in so many of our churches to-day 
that most of the work of the church is done by a very 
few people is, that the members of our churches have 
had this branch of their education neglected, and 
have grown up fitted and trained to take their own 
places in business and social life, but have never been 
taught to feel that they had any responsibihty for 
Christian work. 

They do not feel fitted to take up any benevo- 
lent or rehgious work, because, having never been 
trained to do it, they do not know how to begin. In 
future generations there need be no such excuse 
as this for not being an active and energetic member 
of the church. 

Too Much or too Little Organization. — There 
have been many complaints in these latter days about 
our churches' being too highly organized, and about 
having too much religious machinery. Perhaps the 
fault is not altogether in the machinery, but certainly 
there should be a care in children's organizations that 
there should not be too much machinery. Just what 
is too much or too little organization can be deter- 
mined by the individual church, but naturally the or- 
ganization for the children should be a simple one, 
with just enough machinery to *' make the wheels go 
round," and no more. A very simple constitution is 
all that is necessary, and only so many committees as 
will set all the members of the Junior society at work. 

How to Organize. — A writer in the British Chris- 
tian Endeavour Times has given so clear and concise 



46 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

directions for beginning a Junior Endeavor society 
that I will give them here : — 

" Begin on the ploughed field of the Sunday-school. 
Let the children's ages range from eight to fourteen 
or fifteen years. Call the first meeting in a room 
which will be large enough to prevent overcrowding, 
and yet not too large for you to have adequate 
control of ybur audience. Be prepared for the first 
month to do a good bit of the talking yourself; but 
contrive some variety also, week by week — a straight 
talk from the pastor, a blackboard lesson from some 
efficient teacher, a Bible-reading and some refer- 
ence-hunting ; these will be well within the general 
scope of your future work, and will attract attention. 

" Take the names of all who attend the first meet- 
ing, and keep the register as you go. Read the 
minutes of the first meeting, however informal, at the 
next ; and in all things begin as far as possible as you 
mean to go on. Adopt a cheerful authority with the 
children; let them understand that you mean to be 
obeyed, albeit in all kindliness ; and insist on a 
reverent behavior in the precincts of God's house. 
Many a Junior society has suffered because this 
essential point has been overlooked in the beginning, 
and the difficulty of maintaining order remains one 
of the chief hindrances in the path of spiritual 
progress. 

" Keep the pledge before the children ; explain it ; 
pray over it ; and then, when you believe the right 
time has come, after pleading with the children to 
give themselves to Christ, ask them to stand and show 
by repeating the pledge with you that they have 



JUNIOR ORGANIZATION, 47 

yielded to the claims of his all-redeeming love. You 
want the children to take Christ before they can sign 
any pledge, and the way in which they respond to 
your pleading will help you to see how far they have 
grasped the fundamental principle of Christian En- 
deavor.'' 

Do not be in a hurry to let the children sign the 
pledge, or to have too many sign it. Six active 
members who are earnest little Christians are better 
than any larger number who have simply followed 
suit, Hke sheep blindly leaping a hedge over which 
their leader has gone. All the rest of the regular 
attendants may still come to the meetings, and may, 
when you believe them ready for it, become prepara- 
tory members by signing that pledge, which will 
be given in a later chapter. 

From the roll of active members let the children 
elect their own officers. With a little advice they 
will do it pretty wisely. Then let each do his own 
work, even though you may have more trouble in 
looking after them than if you did all the work your- 
self. It will pay best in the long run. 

Necessary Officers and Committees. — The only 
officers that are necessary in the beginning are a 
president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. 
The committees can be appointed later by the super- 
intendent, as she learns . to know the children and 
is better able to judge which work is better for them. 

Teach the children that it is an honorable thing to 
be elected to any office in the society, and that this 
honor brings its own responsibility. The Junior 
president should be taught to feel that his first duty is 



48 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

to be the very best president possible, to set such an 
example to the society as would naturally be expected 
of the president, to have the interests of the society at 
heart, and to help in planning how to make it a better 
society. He should be taught to preside at the busi- 
ness meetings of the society, and also of the executive 
committee, and should feel always that he is respon- 
sible for doing everything he can to improve the 
society. Let him feel that it is his society, and that 
he perhaps even more than the superintendent can 
improve it and make it accomplish what such a 
society ought to accomplish. 

Officers. — The president may be either a boy or a 
girl; but, since such a position seems more naturally 
to belong to a man, and since every man in the church 
ought to be ready to do such work whenever it is 
needed of him, I would have a boy for president when- 
ever it seems possible. It is true that oftentimes girls 
can be found who can preside at the business meetings 
better than any boy who happens at that time to be- 
long to the society, and will quite possibly set a better 
example to the society ; still, I would advise, whenever 
it can be done, to have a boy chosen for this office. 
Then, if he is not quite all that a president should be, 
help him to grow up into fitness for the position. It 
may be just what is needed to rouse him into Christian 
manliness, and it is quite possible that a boy who has been 
a leader in mischief can be trained to be a leader in Chris- 
tian work, and such boys make the very best leaders 
when they have been so trained. Turn their power 
of leadership into right channels, and help them to see 
that this is a gift that God has given them to be used 



JUNIOR ORGANIZATION. 49 

for his service, and so make them helpers in every 
good word and work. 

The vice-president, too, should be a boy, if it can 
so be; and he might share the work of the presi- 
dent, perhaps taking turns with him in leading the 
business meetings, and helping in planning the work 
of the society. 

Let the secretary and the treasurer be girls, unless 
there is some special reason why it should not be so ; 
and teach them how to do efficient work. 

Committees. — The committees should be appointed 
by the superintendent. At first have only as many 
committees as you need in order to set your active 
members at work ; and, as the list of your active mem- 
bership increases, the number of committees can be in- 
creased. It is quite possible to begin with only a look- 
out and a prayer-meeting committee, if you begin with 
only children enough for those two committees. 

Let all the preparatory members consider themselves 
as belonging to the sunshine committee, and give them 
little pieces of work to do, that will help to put bright- 
ness into the lives of the aged or the sick or the little 
children or any who may be in trouble. The work of 
all the committees will be described more in detail in 
a later chapter. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) Can children organize for religious work ? 

{b) What is the purpose of all education ? 

{ c) What is the advantage of working together ? 

( ^) What is too little organization ? Too much ? 

( <? ) What preparation should be made for organizing? 

(/) What officers and committees are necessary at first? 

(^) What children can be elected to office? 



CHAPTER VII. 

MEMBERSR^IP IN THE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR SOCIETY. 

Classes of Members. — A thoroughly organized Jun- 
ior Endeavor society will have three classes of mem- 
bers, active, preparatory, and honorary. The active 
members should be those boys and girls who desire of 
their own choice to sign the active member s covenant, 
and should be allowed to sign it only after careful 
preparation by the superintendent, and with the con- 
sent of their parents. 

The preparatory members are all those who with 
the consent of their parents will sign and keep the 
very simple pledge which has been prepared for them, 
and the honorary members should consist of any 
parents of Juniors who would like to show in this 
manner their sympathy with the work, and to help it 
as they have opportunity. 

Active Members. — Of course the real strength of 
the society is in the active membership, and it should 
be the aim of the superintendent to bring into this 
membership as many of the boys and girls as possible, 
after first giving them very careful preparation ; the 
superintendent should also do all in her power to help 
them keep the promises they have made. The cov- 
enant which is required of the active members is as 

follows : 

50 



MEMBERSHIP IN THE JUNIOR ENDEA VOR SOCIETY, 51 



^* Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for 
strength, I promise him that I will strive to 
do whatever he would like to have me do ; that 
I will pray and read the Bible every day, and 
that, just as far as I know how, I will endeavor 
to lead a Christian Ufe. 

*^I will be present at every meeting of the 
society when I can, and will take some part in 
every meeting.'* 

Signed 



Of course no child should be allow^ed to sign such a 
solemn promise as this until there is reason to believe 
that he will try faithfully to keep it. Just how he may 
be helped to understand it, and to sign it sincerely, 
will be suggested later in this chapter. 

Having once signed this promise, it should be re- 
quired of all active members that they sincerely strive 
to keep it in the spirit and in the letter, and any child 
who appears wilfully to disregard it should not be al- 
lowed to remain in the active membership. 

Preparatory Members. — The requirements for the 
preparatory members are much easier and simpler. 
They are expected only to sign the following pledge 
and to live up to its requirements : — 



*'I will be present at every meeting of the 
society when I can, and will be quiet and rev- 
erent during the meeting. '* 

Signed 



These requirements are such as any child can meet ; 
and, while he is asked to promise very little, yet he is 



52 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEA VOR, 

required to promise something, and to live up to what 
he promises. So much of purpose, at least, a child 
must have if he wishes to be considered a preparatory 
member of the Junior Endeavor society. The name 
*' preparatory member" seems rather a hard one for a 
child, and a little cumbersome on account of its length ; 
but many earnest workers for the children have felt 
that it was a better word than " trial member " or '* as- 
sociate member," because it describes more exactly the 
relationship to the society. 

A preparatory member is one who is preparing for 
active membership and for larger and higher service, 
and the very name itself helps to keep before the chil- 
dren the thought that this is not a permanent place for 
them, but is only a place where they can begin, and 
that as soon as they are ready for it they can be pro- 
moted to the higher and more honorable ranks of those 
who love our Lord and want to give their lives to his 
service. This thought should be kept constantly 
before the children, and the superintendent should be 
trying always to fit and train them for this larger 
place in the Lord's service. In a well-regulated 
society there will always be little companies of chil- 
dren, sometimes one alone, and sometimes two or 
three, or half a dozen or more, who are moving 
up into the active membership. 

Honorary Members. — The honorary membership, 
as has been said, is for parents and older members of 
the church who desire to express in this way their 
sympathy with the work for the children and their 
willingness to help as opportunity may offer. They 
should become members at the invitation of the chil- 



MEMBERSHIP IN THE JUNIOR ENDEA VOR SOCIETY. 53 

dren, who should regularly vote them into the mem- 
bership, as the active and preparatory members are 
voted in, at one of the regular business meetings 
of the society. It might be made one of the duties 
of the lookout committee to suggest names for this 
membership to the superintendent, and with her 
approval to present them to the society to be voted 
upon. 

At least once a year there ought to be an " Honor- 
ary Members' Day '* to which all the honorary mem- 
bers should be invited ; and there might be a carefully 
prepared programme for the children, which should 
be not very unhke their regular meetings, and should 
occupy half or a third of the time of the meeting ; 
and the rest of the time might be occupied by one or 
two of the honorary members who would be wilHng 
to speak a few words of counsel and sympathy to the 
children. 

The Little Children.— But it may be said that 
a Christian Endeavor meeting where all the active 
members should take part, and where Christian work 
is to be done by the children, must of necessity be 
for older children, and there seems to be no place in 
this scheme for the little ones. Must they wait till 
they are eleven or twelve before they can have their 
share of the training ? 

By no means. A true Junior Endeavor society 
will have a place in its life and work for even the very 
little ones. While the society cannot be made a 
kindergarten or a day nursery, or even a primary 
Sunday-school class, yet it should w^elcome to its 
meetings and its training any child, however small, 



54 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

who is old enough to come to the meetings, and 
sit quietly there and make no disturbance. 

As a rule I think there is less danger of a disturb- 
ance of the meeting from the little ones than from 
some of the older ones, but a wise and winning 
superintendent will know how to hold them all in 
check, and help them always to feel that they must 
reverence God's house. Let the little children come 
to the meetings, then ; and do not content yourself 
with simply allowing them to come, but invite them, 
and make them want to come. It is never too soon to 
begin to work for Christ ; and the earHer you can be- 
gin this Christian Endeavor training, the better. 

If it sometimes happens that one of these little 
ones is restless, and wilfully disturbs the meeting, say 
to him afterwards : " I am afraid you are not quite big 
enough to be a Junior Endeavorer yet, after all; but 
you are growing bigger every day, aren't you ? Just 
as soon as you are big enough to sit quietly and 
listen reverently, you may come again, and I think 
you will be very soon. Why, you almost look as if 
you were big enough now ! Do you suppose by 
next week you will be big enough to come and 
be just as quiet as the older ones? I have a great 
mind to let you try it once more, and see whether 
you are not big enough by that time." 

Some such tone as this with the little ones will help 
them feel that it is an honor to belong to the society, 
and that they want to be counted in its ranks. It has 
been found that some who are very young are really 
in earnest, and can be trusted to sign the preparatory 
member's pledge, and so begin to be counted in 



MEMBERSHIP IN THE JUNIOR ENDEA VOR SOCIETY. 55 

as Christian Endeavorers without waiting till they are 
older. Try for the little ones, then, and train them 
up into Christian lives before they ever have a 
chance to wander away from the fold. In a later 
chapter will be found suggestions as to how the meet- 
ings can be made interesting and helpful to the little 
children as well as to the older ones. 

What to do for Children Who Are not Members 
of the Society. — So far we have talked only of children 
who are wilHng to sign a covenant either simpler 
or more binding, but there are in every community 
some parents who object to pledges of any kind, and 
are not willing that their children should sign any- 
thing, even though the children themselves might not 
object. Shall such children be barred out? Surely 
that could never be the case in a society whose whole 
object is to win as many children as possible for 
Christ and train them to work for him. Every child 
who is willing to come to the meetings and to listen 
quietly, should be gladly welcomed. If some cannot 
sign either covenant, and so enter the membership of 
the society, yet they can come to all the meetings, and 
listen and learn ; and, if any of them are willing to be- 
gin by doing some work for Christ, something might 
be found for them to do as assistants to some commit- 
tee, or as a special helping committee themselves, to 
do what they can to help any committee that needs 
them. Many children have really made their first 
step towards the Christian life when they have become 
regular attendants at some Junior Endeavor prayer- 
meeting, and from that have gone on till they them- 
selves have become so anxious to become full 



56 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

members of the society, and to be counted among the 
Christian boys and girls, that the opposition of their 
parents has been overcome. 

Let all children who wish to attend the meetings do 
so, simply making the condition that they shall 
be quiet and reverent, but do not call them members 
of the society until they shall have made the promises 
contained in either the preparatory or the active 
covenant. Help such children all you can. Make 
them feel themselves welcome at the meetings, and 
strive in every way to lead them to Christ, whether 
they ever come through the doors into membership 
in the society or not, but if possible lead them in time 
into active membership with the sympathy and 
approval of their parents. 

In preparing the children for active membership the 
help of the parents and the Sunday-school teachers 
should, if possible, be enlisted. Call on the parents of 
a child before he signs the active member's covenant. 
Carry a copy of it to his mother yourself. Talk it 
over with her, and ask her to help the boy to keep it, 
especially by keeping watch with regard to the part 
of it that concerns regular daily prayer and Bible- 
reading and taking part in the meetings. Give her a 
list of the topics, and ask her to talk the subject over 
with her boy before he goes to the meetings, and to 
question him afterwards as to what was said there. 
The honorary membership will be a help in securing 
the interest and enlisting the sympathy and occasional 
attendance of the parents and teachers. 

If you can enlist the active help of the mother, you 
have made a great gain for the child, and you have 



MEMBERSHIP IN THE JUNIOR ENDEA VOR SOCIETY. 57 

also helped the mother herself. Appeal to the Sun- 
day-school teacher also, telling her what you hope for 
her pupil ; and ask for sympathy and help in your 
work. If the two organizations are all that they 
ought to be, it should be expected that the Sunday- 
school teacher will greatly help the Junior work of 
the Junior superintendent, and that the latter will also 
help the Sunday-school teacher by trying to teach the 
children that real Christian Endeavor means endeavor 
in Sunday-school, as well as at home and everywhere 
else. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) What classes of members should there be ? 

(^b) What is required of active members ? 

( ^ ) What is required of preparatory members ? 

( ^ ) Who may be honorary members ? 

( ^ ) Is there any place in the society for liffle children ? 

(/) Is there any place in the society for those who are 

not ready to sign any pledge ? 
{g) How may parents and Sunday-school teachers be 

enlisted to help the children to be faithful ? 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 

It will be seen from the previous chapter that the 
covenant which the active members of the Junior En- 
deavor society are expected to sign is a serious one, 
involving earnest effort on the part of the child to 
keep it. The promises made in the covenant are 
these : 

(i) I will try to do whatever Jesus would like to 
have me do. 

(2) I will pray every day. 

(3) I will read the Bible every day. 

(4) I will try to lead a Christian life. 

(5) I will be present at every meeting of the so- 
ciety when I can. 

(6) I will take some part in every meeting. 

The Covenant Promises. — It will be noticed that 
the first promise is a very general one, and that all the 
others are included under it. Any one who can sin- 
cerely promise that ought to be willing to make the 
other promises, which simply specify a few of the 
things that we believe Jesus would like to have us do. 
Yet there are many people, older as well as younger, 
who would readily make the first promise, and yet 
would greatly hesitate at the others, simply because 
the first one is so general. It is much easier for any 
one to say, " I will be good," than to say, " I will be 

58 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT, 69 

good in one definite, specific way." We are all will- 
ing enough to make the vague general promises. It 
is the definite ones that we shrink from. And if we 
stop and examine ourselves to see why we hesitate, if 
we are really honest, we shall too often find that it is 
because we do not really want to feel obliged to do 
these definite things regularly and unfailingly. 

Bible-Reading. — I suppose that all Christians be- 
lieve that they ought to read their Bibles every day, 
and in a general way they mean to do it, unless there 
is something to prevent or to make them forget it. 
But, alas ! too often there is something to prevent ; 
and many Christians, if they would honestly consider 
the subject, would be surprised to find how many days 
go by without their reading their Bibles at all, and 
how many other days there are when they find time 
only to read hastily a very few verses. To those who 
i honestly mean to fulfil this duty every day the Chris- 
tian Endeavor covenant will prove what it was meant 
to be, a staff to lean upon, rather than a chain to bind. 
The very fact of having promised will serve as a re- 
minder, until the duty becomes a habit, and the habit 
a real pleasure that would not willingly be given up. 

But it may be worth our while to consider separately 
these five promises, which are all included in the first 
one, that we may see their reasonableness, and indeed 
their necessity for those who mean to live lives of 
Christian service ; bearing in mind that, if these things 
are duties for older people, they are duties for children 
too, and that their training should begin while they 
are children. 

The First Promise. — If we have really given our- 



60 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

selves to Christ and have begun to Hve a Christian 
hfe, then we have already made the first promise, for 
being a Christian involves trying all our lives to do 
whatever Jesus would like to have us do. If there is 
any real love to Christ in our hearts, it is bound to 
find expression in our lives, and the more we love 
him, the more earnestly we shall " strive to do what- 
ever he would like to have us do/' 

The Second Promise. — But most Christians would 
be willing to promise this and to let their children 
promise it. It is the second and following promises 
that cause more hesitation. But, if we really mean to 
do God's will, we know without any promise that we 
must ask him for help ; we cannot do it in our own 
strength, and we need to ask him every day. As we 
grow more earnest, and stronger in the Christian life, 
we shall be more likely to follow Daniel's example, 
and at least three times a day kneel to God in prayer, 
rather than to have our prayers less frequent. Can we 
expect our children to form the habit of regular daily 
prayer and Bible-reading when they are older, if we 
do not train them to this duty while they are children ? 
It should be a part of the care of every Christian 
mother to see that her children form these habits 
while they are young, and in this work the Junior su- 
perintendent can help her. This promise is meant to 
call the attention of mothers as well as their children 
to this duty, and to help them to do it. 

The third promise we have already considered, and 
the fourth is also involved in the first, for one who has 
willingly made this first promise, and is sincerely try- 
ing to keep it, has surely begun to lead a Christian life. 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT, 61 

The Last Two Promises. — The fifth and sixth 
promises are meant simply as helps in training chil- 
dren from the beginning of their Christian hves to be 
willing to make it known that they are Christians, and 
to learn, while they are children, in a simple and 
natural way to take their own part in the prayer- 
meeting by giving expression in words to their love 
for Christ, in a simple and natural way, as children 
may. It is too often the case in our church prayer- 
meetings of to-day that the whole meeting is carried 
on by two or three, or at least a very few of the older 
members of the church, the same ones every week, 
and the rest of the attendants at the prayer-meeting 
simply sit quietly and absorbed, getting as much good 
to their own souls as they may, but contributing little 
or nothing to the meeting to help others. If they had 
all been trained from childhood to feel that it was 
their privilege and duty to do what they could to 
make the prayer-meetings helpful to others, to have a 
thought of their own upon the topic, and to know how 
to express it, would not our prayer-meetings be greatly 
improved ? These last two promises in our pledge are 
meant as a help in training up children in just this 
way. 

How to Help the Children Keep Their Promises. — 
Though these promises seem reasonable and helpful, 
yet no child should lightly be allowed to make 
them. Different superintendents have adopted differ- 
ent methods in trying to make sure that the children 
are properly prepared to sign this covenant. 

Three Doors. — The following method is one that 
has been tried with good success in some societies. 



62 JUNIOR CHBISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

The way into the society is through three doors or 
gateways. 

The first door is Attendance at the Meetings, Any 
child who cares to do so is invited to be present as 
often as he will at the meetings, and there is no con- 
dition made but quietness and reverence, that the 
meeting may not be disturbed. The children are 
encouraged to bring their little friends with them, even 
for a single meeting. The superintendent takes notice 
of these little guests, and makes them feel that she is 
glad to see them and hopes that they will come again. 
Many children have come in through this first gate- 
way into the society, sometimes just for once, then 
more frequently, until at last they have expressed a 
desire to ** belong," for all children like to belong to 
something. This first gateway is so wide and easy that 
it catches many children. 

The Second Door. — The second gateway into the 
society is made a little narrower, but it lets the children 
inside the ranks of the society. This is the doorway 
into Preparatory Membership. If a child really wants 
to be a member of the society, he must promise some- 
thing. It is not just a place for pleasure. From the 
beginning the children are taught that the whole 
object of this society is to make them Christian boys 
and girls, and to teach them how to show their love 
for Christ by working for him. 

If they wish to be members of this society, they 
must begin to show at their very entrance through its 
door that they have a definite purpose in coming in. 
And so this second doorway is narrowed by two 
promises, but only by two, and those such that any 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 63 

child can make them. They will come regularly to 
the meetings, not simply now and then, not just when 
they happen to feel like it, but regularly. 

If they wish only to come now and then, they must 
be contented to come only through that first doorway, 
as guests ; but, if they want to ** belong," they must 
come regularly, and must let no shght reason keep 
them away. That '*■ when I can " in the covenant 
means exactly what it says. If they can come, they 
must come, if they wish to be members. If they are 
prevented by illness, or absence from town, or because 
for any reason their parents wish to have them stay 
away, then of course they cannot come, and they have 
sufficient excuse for absence. Of course no superin- 
tendent can go back of the parents, or in opposition to 
their wishes ; but, when the mother thinks it best for 
a child to stay away from a meeting, whatever her 
reason may be, it is for her to decide the child's duty. 
This promise in the covenant is meant to keep the 
child's own conscience alive to his duty, and to make 
him feel that he ought to let no small reason keep him 
away from the prayer-meeting. 

The second is also a simple and natural requirement. 
The children must promise to be quiet and reverent in 
the meeting. Even very young children may make 
these two promises, and so enter through this second 
doorway into the society. 

The Third Doorway. — The third gateway into the 
society is much narrower and more difficult to enter, 
but the wise and winning superintendent will take the 
children by the hand and lead them through. This 
door leads into Active Membership , and into the Chris- 



64 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

tian life. It requires from the children the promises 
given in the beginning of this chapter. 

When the superintendent feels that there are a few 
among the preparatory members who are nearly ready 
for active membership, she gives a general invitation 
in the meeting to those preparatories who think they 
would like to become active members to stop for a 
little after-meeting to talk it over. Perhaps two or 
three children will stay, or perhaps fifteen or twenty. 
In this little after-meeting with only a few children she 
can get very near to their hearts. Then she explains 
to them very simply and clearly what it means to be a 
Christian, and how they may make the signing of this 
pledge the beginning of their Christian lives. 

Often in this first little after-meeting some of the 
children take the first step into the Christian life. 
Then she tells them that for five or six weeks they will 
hold these little fifteen-minute after-meetings, and will 
talk over together the promises that they are going to 
make. In this first meeting they talk in a simple con- 
versational manner about the first sentence of the 
pledge, " Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for 
strength, I promise him." She helps the children, by 
drawing out their own thoughts on the subject, to 
understand what trust is, and that it is only as we trust 
in Jesus for strength that we can make these promises, 
and that it is to him that we make them, and not to 
any one else. 

At the other little after-meetings they talk over just 
one promise each time, and then the children are asked 
to take home a copy of the pledge and hang it up in 
their rooms, and practise this promise, but not sign it 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 65 

yet. By the time four or five of these httle meetings 
have been held the children are generally pretty well 
sifted out, and only those remain who are really in ear- 
nest Those who stopped because others did, or for any 
unworthy reason, are likely to get tired of these extra 
meetings, and to give up after coming once or twice. 

When the whole covenant has been talked over, and 
prayed over in this way, then she gives the children 
another week to think of it and talk it over with their 
parents before they bring it back signed, and in the 
meantime she tries to talk it over with the parents 
herself, and to enlist their help in keeping the children 
faithful. Then they bring back the pledge signed, and 
are voted in by the society, after which all the active 
members rise and repeat the pledge together ; and the 
superintendent or the pastor, or some one of the hon- 
orary members who may be there, offers an earnest 
prayer that these new members and all of those who 
have signed this pledge may be found faithful, and that 
the Lord, whose they are and whom they have prom- 
ised to serve, may keep them in his fold. Children 
who have had this careful preparation for signing the 
pledge are seldom found wilfully unfaithful in keep- 
ing it. 

Unfaithfulness. — If, however, it is ever found, as 
will sometimes happen, that a Junior is wilfully un- 
faithful, and does not seem to be even trying to 
keep his promise, then it should be taken from 
him. He should not be allowed to remain a mem- 
ber of the society, bound by promises that he is 
wilfully breaking every day. In such a case, keep the 
child for a little quiet talk alone, and ask him what he 



66 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

thinks should be done. Appeal to his reason and his 
conscience ; and, if this is wisely and winsomely done, 
he will agree with you that, for a little time at least, he 
ought to hand back his pledge, and have his name 
taken off the list. 

But try to inspire him with a desire to begin at 
once to keep it again, that as soon as he has proved 
his sincerity he may come back into the ranks as a 
faithful active member ; and then help him to do so. 
Let it be your aim to win him back again to faithful- 
ness and earnestness in the Master's service as soon as 
possible. 

Reorganization. — If a society has already been 
organized, and the children have perhaps been allowed 
to sign the pledge too hastily and thoughtlessly, then 
such a society should at once be reorganized on a 
better basis. Have a special meeting to talk it over 
with the children. Explain to them once more the 
purpose of the society. Tell them that it is not ac- 
complishing that purpose, and you are afraid that 
some of them have signed the pledge too thought- 
lessly, without quite realizing what solemn promises 
they were making. Give them a week in which to 
think it over carefully, and tell them that next week 
you will begin all over again, and they will all have 
an opportunity to take the pledge again if they really 
and sincerely wish to keep it. 

At the next meeting pass around slips of paper to 
each child, on one of which is written, *' I have 
thought about the pledge, and I want to remain a 
member of the society, and I will try to be faithful." 
On the other slip write, " I have thought about the 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 67 

pledge, and I think I had perhaps better wait a Uttle 
longer before I sign it again." 

Ask each child to sign his name to one or the 
other slip and to pass them in. After the papers 
have been collected ask those who still want to be 
active members to stop for a little after-meeting of 
fifteen minutes. Hold such after-meetings perhaps 
for two or three weeks, and at these little meetings 
talk and pray over the pledge with the children, 
letting them tell you just what their difficulties are, 
and what part of the pledge they find hardest to keep, 
and what efforts they are going to make to keep it 
now ; and suggest to them means that they may use 
as reminders. 

You will probably find your society much smaller 
after this reorganization ; but, if it is rightly done, you 
will still keep all the others as preparatory members, 
and you will not be satisfied till the time comes when 
they are won back again into active membership that 
shall be a real thing and shall mean earnest effort to 
live the Christian life. 

Questions for Review. 

(^) What six things does a Junior promise when he 

signs the covenant pledge ? 
( b ) Give a reason for each of these promises. 
( ^ ) Through what three doorways may a child enter 

a Junior Endeavor society ? 
( d') What can the superintendent do to help him keep 

his promises ? 
( <f ) What should be done if he wilfully breaks them ? 
(/) What may be done if a society has already been 

formed and the children are not keeping their 

promises ? 
{g) How would you reorganize? 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE JUNIOR COVENANT {Continued), 

Objections. — From the very beginning there have 
been even more objections to the Junior pledge or 
covenant than to the older one. Those who have 
objected have been those who have not tried it, or 
who have not had opportunity to see what it has ac- 
complished ; but the objections have been sincere, and 
many of them natural ones. The Junior Society 
seemed in the beginning even more of an innovation 
than the Young People's Society. Children had been 
organized for mission and temperance work, but the 
idea of expecting children to carry on organized re- 
ligious work and to take so strenuous a pledge was so 
new and startling that it is not to be wondered at that 
there were many objectors in the beginning; and, 
though their number has grown less, there are still 
many who do not understand how it can be wise to 
use such methods with children. 

Most of these objections have answered themselves 
as the months and the years have gone by, but for the 
benefit of those who still meet these objections it may 
be well to consider them here. 

A Solemn Pledge. — Perhaps the first objection that 
arises in the minds of those who are not familiar with 
the work is this : " It is so solemn a pledge, and re- 
quires so much of those who sign it, that it ought not 

68 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 69 

to be asked of children. They will not understand its 
importance and its solemnity." It certainly is a solemn 
pledge, and should not be taken lightly, but a superin- 
tendent who has been wisely selected for her work will 
always be very careful to make sure that the children 
do understand it and realize its solemnity, before she 
allows them to sign it. This is the first principle laid 
down in all Junior Endeavor work, and reiterated at 
every Christian Endeavor convention and Junior con- 
ference and in every Junior Endeavor leaflet. 

Do not let the children sign the active member's 
covenant until they have thoroughly studied it with 
their superintendent and have talked it over with their 
parents ; do not let them sign it hastily or thought- 
lessly; do not hurry them into signing it, or urge 
them ; let it be their own choice. I cannot think that 
any one who has enough love for children, and enough 
earnestness and devotion to be willing to undertake 
this work, would allow the children to sign it thought- 
lessly. As a matter of fact, I believe that the Junior 
superintendents are very careful and conscientious in 
the preparation that they give to the children for sign- 
ing this pledge, using either such methods as have been 
described in the previous chapter or others that will 
accomplish the same object. 

Faithfulness of the Children.— As one who has had 
opportunity to help to prepare many children for tak- 
ing this covenant, I can testify that the children can 
and do understand its solemnity, and that they will 
freely and frankly talk over their difficulties and objec- 
tions ; and of the many children that have personally 
talked and prayed over the covenant with me before 



70 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

they signed it, in these last dozen years, as I have 
watched them and tried to help them to faithfulness in 
keeping it in the months and years that have followed 
their signing it, almost every one has proved faithful, 
and has seemed to be sincerely trying to do what he 
has promised. 

I think their pastor would testify that, so far as any 
one can judge of another person's faithfulness, they 
are living up to their promises as faithfully as the older 
members of the church are living up to theirs. The 
children know it is a solemn pledge ; but, though it is 
solemn, it is simple, and it is not difificult for a child to 
understand or to promise, and is nothing more than 
every Christian mother wishes her child to do, whether 
she is willing he should promise to do it or not. 

Is the Covenant Pledge too Hard ?— But there are 
now and always have been those who say : " This 
pledge is too hard. It is too much to ask of the chil- 
dren.'* Yet all Christian parents, and I believe even 
those who themselves are not Christians, wish their 
children to grow up as Christians ; and this pledge is 
only what Christ himself asks of his disciples. He 
says, " Ye are my disciples if ye do whatsoever I com- 
mand you." That is all this pledge requires of the 
children — to do *' whatever Jesus would Hke to have 
them do." It specifies a few definite things that he 
would like to have them do, and it is these definite 
things that most objectors find fault with, though none 
of them deny that these are things that Jesus would 
like to have us do. I suppose that every church cov- 
enant in the land contains a phrase that means very 
much the same thing. 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 71 

A Church Covenant in a Child's Language.— I give 
below what might be called a translation of a church 
covenant into children's language, as written out by a 
girl of twelve who was a member of the Junior En- 
deavor society, as her understanding of the covenant 
she was to take in uniting with the church. This was 
the regular covenant that was used in that church, and 
after studying it with her Junior superintendent, and 
talking it over phrase by phrase, she had written it out 
in her own words as she understood it, that it might 
help her to understand just what she was covenanting 
in uniting with that church. 

*' I humbly and cheerfully give myself to 
God in the everlasting promise of his grace, 
giving myself wholly to his service and glory ; 
and I promise that by the help of his Spirit I 
will hold to him as my chief good ; that I will 
be faithful to the public services of his church, 
and in Bible-reading and prayer ; that I will 
seek the honor of his name ; that I will try to 
lead others to him, and will work for his king- 
dom, giving up everything that will draw me 
away from Christ. ... I do now cor- 
dially join myself to this church and promise 
to live by its rules ; and I solemnly promise 
to do all I can for its interests." 

All this is either plainly written or implied in almost 
every church covenant, and yet there are those who 
will allow children whom they believe to be Christians 
to take this covenant, even while they are objecting 
that this Junior Endeavor covenant is too hard. 

Perhaps, however, the best answer to these objectors 
is the fact that it has not proved too hard for any child 



72 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

who sincerely wishes to lead a Christian Ufe, and that 
many have taken their first step into the Christian life 
when they have conscientiously and intelligently signed 
this pledge and have faithfully tried to Uve up to its 
requirements. 

Objections to Making Promises of Any Kind. — But 
there are always some who object to signing any 
pledge. They say that they will not sign pledges 
themselves, and will not allow their children to do so. 
Yet these same objectors have made very solemn and 
binding promises themselves when they took their mar- 
riage vows, and are every day signing business con- 
tracts and making promises that are just as binding as 
these in the pledge. 

Too often the real objection to taking this pledge is 
that people do not want to feel obliged to keep these 
promises. They do not want to think they must do 
these things regularly and faithfully. Let us ask the 
objecting parent a few questions. If you wish your 
child to read his Bible and pray every day, and to at- 
tend his prayer-meeting faithfully, and take his share 
of the work, if you intend to have him do these things, 
why should you object to having him promise to do 
them ? Can it be that you do not intend to have him 
attend regularly to his Christian duties, that you are 
afraid to let him promise to do them ? Would you be 
afraid to let him promise that he would go to school 
every day when he could, and would study his lessons 
there ? You know that you intend to have him do 
that ; and, if he were asked to promise it, you would 
not be at all afraid of the promise, for you mean to 
have him do it whether he promises or not. If you 



THE JUNIOR covenant: 73 

just as really and thoroughly meant that he should 
grow up a Christian and should take his share in the 
church hfe and work, would you be afraid to have him 
promise to do it ? These questions are worth thinking 
over carefully and answering honestly. 

Can a Child Keep These Promises? — But there 
are honest objectors who say, " It is not that I am 
afraid of promises, but these are such solemn ones that 
I am afraid he will not keep them." True, there is a 
danger ; but, if these are things that he ought to do, 
it should be our duty to help him keep them, rather 
than to hinder him from making them at all. 

As has been said before, the promise should be con- 
sidered as a staff to lean on, not a chain to bind ; and 
we ought to let the children have the staff. Teach 
them the solemnity of the promise, but also the joy of 
it ; and then help them to keep it. Make it your own 
duty and privilege to see that they do not break it. 

How to Help the Children Keep Their Promises. 
— The superintendent can do much to help the chil- 
dren keep their pledge by frequently talking it over 
with them and explaining it, and finding out their 
difficulties, and encouraging them, and giving them 
little reminders ; but the parents who see them every 
day can do far more to help them keep it. Ask your- 
self this question, then, and answer it honestly in 
God's sight: Which will be better for my child, to 
prevent him from signing this pledge, because of the 
fear lest he may break it, or to show him that 
these are things that he ought to do whether he 
promises or not, and to encourage him to promise, be- 
cause the very promise will be a help and a reminder 



74 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

to him, and then to feel my own responsibility for 
him, and to help him keep it? Which plan will 
be more likely to make an earnest working Christian 
of him ? Is that what you want him to be ? 

Bible-Reading. — But I have often met those who 
have no objections to the other promises of the 
pledge, but who say : ** I am afraid the children will 
not remember to read their Bibles every day. They 
never will keep this part of the pledge, and they must 
not promise it." 

I always wonder whether those who make this 
objection do read their own Bibles every day, and 
whether they are training their children to do it. 
They want the children to lead a Christian life, but 
how can they expect them to do it if these children 
are not in the habit of studying God's word every day 
for counsel and direction, and praying to him for help 
to obey its teachings ? How can they know what is 
God's will for them if they do not look for it in his 
word? 

There are certain duties that we teach a child 
to perform every day, that we should not think 
of letting him neglect, even if he should forget 
them himself. We expect him to wash his face and 
brush his hair, for instance, every morning before he 
appears at the breakfast-table. Is this more impor- 
tant than that he should look to God for guidance, and 
read a few words from His book ? If we can teach 
him to wash his face every morning, can we not 
also teach him to read his Bible every morning, if we 
think it as important and take as much pains about it ? 

How often in the day do we ask him whether 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT, 75 

he has washed his face or hands ? How often do we 
ask him whether he has read his Bible ? How often 
do we mothers go ourselves and wash the child's face 
or hands for him ? How often do we read the Bible 
with him ? 

Let parents ask themselves some of these practical 
questions, and then consider whether they have 
any right to say that their boys will not keep this 
promise. 

But there are children who have not Christian 
parents. Should such be allowed to sign this pledge ? 
Not until you are persuaded that they mean to do the 
things they promise. It will be harder for such chil- 
dren, and the superintendent must strive to exert 
a stronger influence, and give more frequent and 
more careful help ; but I have so often known children 
of non-Christian parents to form this habit for them- 
selves, and faithfully to keep this promise, that I 
am sure there are many such who may be taught 
to do this thing, and that even this part of the pledge 
need not be alarming with proper care and guidance 
on the part of superintendent and Sunday-school 
teacher. 

Taking Part in the Prayer-Meeting. — Still one 
other objection often arises. For there are those who 
say : *' There is no need of their promising to take 
part in the prayer-meeting. It will make them insin- 
cere. They will say what they do not mean, or they 
will become priggish or conceited." 

There is a danger here, though it is usually greatly 
overestimated. But like the others it can be guarded 
against. This, too, is a cardinal principle of Junior 



76 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

Endeavor, which is learned, I believe, by every Junior 
superintendent at the beginning of her work, and is 
reiterated at every convention and conference. " Be 
very careful how your Juniors take part in the meet- 
ing. Teach them to say only what they really mean. 
Teach them not to pray unless they really have some- 
thing for which they wish to ask, or blessings for 
which they really wish to thank their Father.'' Show 
them how to have a thought on the topic which they 
can express simply and naturally. Help them to see 
what is the most helpful and sincere way to take part 
in a prayer-meeting. 

Just how they may be taught to do this in the most 
helpful way, or at least some methods by which they 
may be helped, will be given in a future chapter on 
the prayer-meeting. Perhaps it is sufficient to say 
here that as a matter of fact it has proved that 
children do take part simply and naturally, and 
that their childish prayers seem to be as earnest 
and sincere as any that can be heard in the church 
prayer-meeting. 

It remains true, then, as a natural and logical fact 
that, if prayer-meetings are desirable for the church, 
some one must be ready to take part in them ; and it 
naturally follows that those who have been trained 
from childhood to do this will be likely to do it more 
helpfully than those who must hesitatingly and 
timidly begin to do it as a wholly unaccustomed 
duty when they are older and their habits of thought 
and speech formed. 

Only let it be remembered that especially in a chil- 
dren's meeting taking part does not mean an exhor- 



THE JUNIOR COVENANT. 77 

tation or a learned discourse, but rather the expression 
of a simple, helpful thought on the topic, or a very 
short, simple prayer for definite help that is desired, or 
a childlike expression of thanks for definite blessings 
received. 

With this thought in mind, experience has proved 
in all these years that children can be taught to take 
part in the prayer-meeting simply and naturally, with- 
out conceit or unpleasant precociousness, and that as 
they grow older they are better able to take their place 
in the church prayer-meeting because of the training 
they have had as Juniors. 

Questions for Review. 

(^) What answer would you give to those who say, 
**The children do not understand the solemnity 
of the pledge ' ' ? 

( ^ ) What to one who says, ^^ It is too hard for them " ? 

(c) What to one who says, **They ought not to sign 
any pledge ' ' ? 

(^) What to one who says, *<They will not keep their 
promises ' ' ? 

(e) What to one who says, ^'They might keep the 
other promises, but they will not remember to 
read their Bibles every day " ? 

(/) What to one who says, *< They will learn to be in- 
sincere ' ' ? 

( ^ ) Will it make them priggish ? 



CHAPTER X. 

THE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR PRAYER-MEETING. 

The Prayer-Meetings. — A true Junior Endeavor 
society should usually hold a prayer-meeting as often 
as once a week, unless in exceptional circumstances. 
These meetings should be real prayer-meetings, con- 
ducted as nearly as may be like the meetings of the 
Young People's society. It is for each church to de- 
cide for itself what day is the best for the Junior 
meetings, but there are many reasons why it would 
seem better that the meetings should be held if possi- 
ble on a week-day and in the afternoon, or as early as 
possible in the evening. 

When to Hold the Meetings. — Many societies hold 
their meetings on a week-day afternoon, immediately 
after school. In some churches it is the custom to 
have the meetings on Sunday afternoon, but there are 
so many objections to this time that the matter ought 
to be very seriously considered before this time is se- 
lected. The Sunday is always a crowded day, with 
Sabbath-school and preaching-service and evening 
service and young people's meeting. Often, too, it 
happens that the Junior superintendent is also a Sun- 
day-school teacher and a member of the Young Peo- 
ple's society, with many other duties to fill up her 
Sunday, and it ought not to be expected of her to fill 

78 



THE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR PRATER- MEETING. 79 

up her last possible opportunity of rest on the Lord's 
Day with the Junior Endeavor meeting. Moreover, 
it is not a good thing for the children to feel that they 
can crowd all their religion into the Sunday, and that 
they cannot give up any of their playtime for relig- 
ious work. For the sake of teaching them this les- 
son, if for no other reason, it seems desirable that 
their meetings should be held on a week-day. 

On the other hand, it is sometimes said that in many 
of the cities and other places where the society has 
been formed in connection with city-mission work it 
helps to keep the children out of the streets on Sun- 
day, and that their mothers are glad to have them 
taken care of on Sunday afternoons. But even in 
these cases the fact remains true that these children 
need to learn to give up some of their playtime to the 
Lord's service. 

Would it not be better for them also to have a part 
of their religious instruction during the week, instead 
of putting it all into the Sunday ? Let the Sunday- 
school teacher give them all the help and uplift she 
can on Sunday, and then on Wednesday or Thursday 
or Friday let the Junior superintendent try to help 
them to put in practice what they learned on Sunday. 

Of course there should be no hard and fixed rule 
for all societies, and there may be many societies 
which can best hold their meetings on Sunday, but the 
whole subject ought to be carefully considered, and 
then settled in the way that will be most helpful for 
the children ; for they are the ones to be helped and 
trained. 

Whatever day is chosen, try to help the children to 



80 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

feel that that is their day, and a time to be looked 
forward to with pleasure. 

Length of Meetings. — The meetings, on whatever 
day they may be held, should not be too long. Ordi- 
narily about three-quarters of an hour is as long 
as the children can profitably be held. A short 
helpful meeting is much better than one that con- 
tinues till the children are weary and longing for 
the meeting to close. They can learn as much as 
they can hold in a shorter time, and will remember it 
better. A good prayer-meeting should always begin 
promptly and close promptly, and then the children 
will know just what to expect. 

Moreover, if your meetings are short, it will leave 
opportunity for an occasional short after-meeting for 
just two or three whom the superintendent can reach 
more easily if she has them by themselves. If a so- 
ciety is large, the meetings must of necessity be some- 
what general in their character, but very often a short 
after-meeting for those who would like to stay to talk 
about beginning the Christian life, or to prepare for 
active membership, may be made a very helpful ad- 
junct to the prayer-meeting. 

Taking Part in the Prayer-Meeting. — There have 
been many to object to the plan of having the chil- 
dren themselves take part in the prayer-meeting. 
But how shall they learn to do it when they are older 
if they are not trained to it ? Will it not be easier for 
them by and by, and will they not know how to do it 
more helpfully, if they learn to do it while they are 
young, and if it becomes a matter of course to them 
to take their own share of the prayer-meeting ? This 



THE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR PRAYER-MEETINO. 81 

matter of taking part in the meeting need not be made 
a great bugbear. To take part in a prayer-meeting is 
to say something in the meeting, or to offer a prayer ; 
but it is not necessary to say something very wise or 
very eloquent, or to offer a long and " able prayer." 

A child who has repeated a Bible verse, or ex- 
pressed a single thought on the topic, or offered a 
simple petition for blessing or help or forgiveness, has 
taken part in the meeting. One object of this society 
is to teach the children how to take part in the meet- 
ing sincerely and helpfully, and a great part of the 
work of the superintendent is so to plan the meeting 
that she can help the children to take their part. 
Sometimes she will write four or five questions on the 
topic on the blackboard, and let any who choose take 
part by answering these questions. 

How to Help the Children Take Part. — Sometimes 
she will ask each one to bring a Bible verse on the 
topic, and to tell in his own words what he thinks it 
means, or how it has helped him. Sometimes she 
will make the meeting conversational, and let the 
children take part by answering questions she may 
ask them as the meeting goes on. Sometimes she will 
give them a Bible story, or a story of missionary life, 
to learn and tell in the meeting. In all these and 
many other ways she will teach them how to think 
over the topic themselves, and have something to say 
about it. 

Praying in the Prayer-Meeting. — The question of 
asking the children to pray in the meetings is a more 
serious one. It is so easy for older people as well as 
for children to let their prayers become mere words, 



82 JUNIOR CHBISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

without an earnest desire for the blessings they ask, 
that one should try in every way to guard the chil- 
dren from insincerity. Always remind them that 
praying is talking to God. Always wait till the room 
is very quiet before you allow prayer to be offered. 
Teach the children to take a reverent attitude in 
prayer. Do not urge the children to pray, but rather 
let only those pray who have something definite to 
pray for. Sometimes give them Bible prayers to read 
and then to make their own if they can say them sin- 
cerely. Let them have a moment of silent prayer be- 
fore the audible prayers begin, that they may ask God 
to make them sincere in their praying. Sometimes 
ask their prayers for special objects, but first interest 
them in these objects, so that they may really desire 
the blessings they ask. 

Sincerity in Prayer. — Try above all things to guard 
them from insincerity in prayer. And I believe this 
may be done, and that as a rule the children's prayers 
are quite as earnest and reverent and sincere as those 
of their elders, so far as one who does not see the 
heart can judge ; and this belief has come to me as a 
result of years of work with children, and because of 
their prayers that I have listened to and joined in. 

The Superintendent's Part in the Meeting.— The 
superintendent's- part in the meetings should always be 
bright and brief. Whether you think it best to let 
one of the children lead the meeting, or to lead it 
yourself, make your own part brief. Study to say 
what you have to say, in such a way that it must hold 
the children's attention ; and, when you cannot hold 
it, stop talking. 



THE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR PRAYER-MEETING, 83 

Illustrate your point with a bright story or with 
some object, or with the blackboard when you can in 
this way make it plainer ; but think of these methods 
only as tools, to be used when they will help, but never 
to be used for their own sake alone. Do not be tied 
to blackboard work, or object teaching, or even to 
story-telling. Have a point to make, and make it in 
the best and brightest and most earnest way you can. 
Sometimes use one of these methods and sometimes 
another ; but make your point every time, and give 
the children something to remember that will help them. 
Sometimes lead the meeting yourself; sometimes let 
your part of it be only a ten minutes' talk on the 
topic ; sometimes content yourself with a general 
oversight of the meeting, and ask some one else to 
talk to the children ; but do not omit their part in it. 

The Bible in the Meetings. — See that the children 
have their Bibles in the meeting quite frequently, if 
not always, and sometimes give out references for 
them to find, or passages for them to read, or have a 
responsive reading on the topic. But do not let them 
form the habit of taking their own part in the meeting 
simply by reading a Bible verse. If they wish to take 
part in the meeting in Bible words, let them learn 
their verses and repeat them. 

The Object of All the Meetings.— But let it not be 
forgotten that the whole object of these meetings is 
worship. Sometimes even in the use of good methods 
there is danger that this may be forgotten. Help the 
children to feel that for a half or three-quarters of an 
hour they are going to worship God, and that he is 
there with them, that they will talk to him, and that 



84 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

he will listen as they talk of the topic together. Be 
very careful to have the meeting always reverent, and 
to make the children feel that this meeting is to them 
what the church prayer-meeting is to the older mem- 
bers of the church. 

It follows, then, as a matter of course that there 
must be order in the meetings, or there cannot be 
worship. How to secure order is the problem that 
confronts every superintendent and leader of children's 
meetings ; but in some way it must be secured, and 
the leader who cannot do it has mistaken her vocation, 
or she has allowed her children to become members 
without considering the pledge sufficiently, or she has 
not been firm enough. It needs consecrated inge- 
nuity and tact, but it is possible to find something 
for the mischievous ones to do, and to make it so in- 
teresting that the indifferent ones must Hsten. 

Special Meetings. — Sometimes much good can be 
done by holding special meetings that bring together 
only a few children, or certain selected ones. I have 
already spoken of after-meetings that may be held for 
those who wish to become active members. Some- 
times hold these little after-meetings for those who 
want to know how to begin to be Christians, some- 
times for those who want to unite with the church, but 
need special preparation ; sometimes hold little evan- 
gelistic meetings. 

Take special pains in preparing the consecration 
meetings, to make them solemn and helpful." But the 
one object of all these meetings should be that of the 
whole society, — to lead the children to Christ and 
train them for his service. Sometimes hold a meet- 



THE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR PRAYER-MEETING. 85 

ing specially for boys, and let the pastor, or perhaps 
some bright, popular, earnest young man whom they 
all respect, come and help in the meeting. 

Sometimes hold a meeting for the girls, and some- 
times one for the older members or for the very 
youngest ones ; but do not let these little meetings 
interfere with the regular meetings of the whole so- 
ciety together. These should be only occasional 
meetings, held before or after the regular meetings, 
which may be shortened a little to allow time for it ; 
or sometimes one of these little special meetings 
might be called at a special time apart from the 
regular meeting. But, like all the other methods, 
these should be used wisely, and only when they are 
needed and will prove really helpful. 

Often where a society is large, with a good many 
little children, it is wise to divide the society, having a 
sub-Junior meeting for those under ten or under nine, 
letting the opening services be for all, and then march- 
ing out the little ones to the tune of " Onward, Chris- 
tian Soldiers," into another room, to hold a shorter 
meeting at the same time and on the same topic, so 
that they may still feel that they are a part of the so- 
ciety. In some churches it may be wiser to have two 
Junior societies. 

Questions for Review. 

(^) How often should the prayer-meetings be held, and 
on what day? 

{b) How long should the meetings be, and how con- 
ducted ? 

( ^ ) How can the children be taught to take part in 
the meetings ? 



86 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

(d) How can the children be taught to pray in the 

meetings ? 
( <? ) What is the superintendent's part in the meeting? 
(/) How may the children use their Bibles in the 

meetings ? 
(g) How is the element of worship secured ? 
(h) How would you secure order in the meetings ? 
( / ) What special meetings may be held ? 



CHAPTER XL 

BUSINESS MEETINGS. 

Importance of Business Meetings. — A Junior En- 
deavor society should have its business meetings as 
regularly as the Young People's society, and they 
should be conducted in as businesslike a manner. 
The children should be taught to feel the importance 
of these meetings and to conduct them themselves. 
A Junior president ought to be so trained and taught 
that sometime he will make a very good president for 
the older society if he is needed for that position, and 
it is well that he should learn the duties of that office 
while he is a boy. The same efforts should also be 
made to train the other officers of the society. 

When to Hold the Business Meeting. — The busi- 
ness meetings should be held at least as often as once 
in two months, and oftener if in any society it seems 
best. Some societies hold them once a month. Some 
societies make these separate meetings, or hold them 
in connection with sociables, and others hold them in 
connection with the prayer-meetings. Each society 
must decide for itself just when these meetings shall 
be held, and it should depend somewhat upon the 
nature of the business transacted. 

How to Conduct It. — Usually a business meeting 
will mean only the hearing of the reports of the secre- 
tary and the different committees, and the voting in 

87 



88 JUNIOR CSBISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

of any new members who may have been proposed. 
The children should be helped to write their reports, 
that they may make them a brief record of work 
attempted or planned for the future, or perhaps some- 
times simply a confession of little work attempted, 
and the expression of a purpose to do better work in 
the next month. The reading of these reports may 
be made a most helpful part of the meeting, and it 
may be found wise to take the first fifteen minutes of 
the prayer-meeting for a devotional business meeting, 
when the children shall tell of the work they have at- 
tempted or have failed to do, and shall be reminded 
that all this work is for Christ and his church, and 
that by doing it efficiently and promptly they are 
pleasing him and learning to be more useful in his 
service ; and it may well close with prayers that they 
may be "not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, 
serving the Lord." Such a business meeting as this 
might always be held in connection with the regular 
prayer-meeting if it were thought best. If, however, 
the business meeting is to consider new plans of work, 
or plans for raising money, or anything which you 
wish the Juniors to discuss themselves, then it might 
more properly be held for the first half-hour of a 
sociable, or at some special meeting called for the 
purpose. 

The Question of Finances.— Naturally there will not 
be very much business to be transacted at the Junior 
business meetings, but there should be enough to train 
the children in businesslike ways of doing their work, 
even Christian work. The question of the society 
finances might wisely be discussed with the children at 



BUSINESS MEETINGS, 89 

some business meeting early in the year's work, taking 
this up in connection with a sociable. Let the chil- 
dren express their own opinions on such questions as 
these: What money do we need in our society? 
What is the best way to raise our money ? What pro- 
portion of the money we raise ought we to use for our- 
selves ? How can we most wisely distribute the money 
that we give away ? What proportion of it should we 
give to foreign missions, and what to home missions, 
and what to city missions ? What proportion of our 
foreign or home missionary money should go to special 
objects which are sometimes presented to us, as fresh- 
air missions, comfort-bags, the poor of our own town, 
and what to the general work of the boards ? If you 
can train the children to think for themselves on these 
topics, and to give their money systematically, and 
with a wise proportion, you will have done for them 
what ought to have been done for the older members 
of our churches, and will have helped to solve some 
of the problems of our missionary boards in the days 
when these boys and girls of ours shall be older. 

Society Methods. — Sometimes, too, discuss with the 
children questions in regard to the best methods to be 
used in the society, and get their own ideas as to the 
best kind of prayer-meeting, the best kind of busi- 
ness meeting, the best ways of maintaining order and 
reverence in the meeting, the best ways of gaining and 
admitting new members, the best ways of keeping the 
society in good working order. If you have not tried 
it, you may be surprised to find what wise ideas of or- 
der and good government the children have. Such 
meetings as these, however, should be only occasional, 



90 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

and at the usual business meetings there should not be 
much business transacted except the reading of the 
reports and the reception of new members. 

Reports of Committees. — Be very particular about 
these reports, that they shall always be written, and 
that they shall be honest. It will mean some labor 
on the part of the superintendent as well as of the 
children, but it will help them to feel their responsibil- 
ity for their work, and the very fact that they must re- 
port to the society the manner in which they have 
done the work committed to them will in itself incite 
them to do better work. 

The Chairman. — Let the Junior president preside 
at these business meetings, or let him take turns with 
the vice-president, that they may both know better 
how to do this work. Teach the little president how 
to preside in a dignified and businessHke way. Let 
him, if need be, rehearse a business meeting before- 
hand with the superintendent, or with his father and 
brothers, that he may speak promptly and distinctly, 
and call for reports and votes in a manly, businesslike 
way. Always have a report from the secretary at 
these business meetings, and occasionally from the 
treasurer. Always open and close the business meet- 
ing with prayer, which may be offered by the presi- 
dent or one of the other officers or by the superin- 
tendent. 

The Children's Responsibility for the Business. — 
Give the children as much responsibility for the busi- 
ness of the society as possible. Let them learn, while 
they are boys and girls, that every church has to con- 
duct its affairs in a businesslike way if it would pros- 



BUSINESS MEETINGS, 91 

per, and that it is serving the Lord to do his work 
efficiently and wisely. Talk with the children about 
some of the business that comes before church officers 
and the questions they have to decide. Let the chil- 
dren themselves conduct as much of the business as 
possible, rehearsing them beforehand, if need be, in 
order that the meeting may be conducted in an orderly 
manner. Let the secretary read the names of the new 
members who have been approved by the superintend- 
ent for active membership. Sometimes let the Juniors 
propose new measures that are to be discussed in the 
meeting, and try so far as possible to teach the Juniors 
to carry on a business meeting themselves, as a church 
business meeting is carried on, or as a church business 
meeting should be carried on. 

The superintendent should be behind all this business 
meeting, and should guide it, but should teach the 
children to do it, with proper guidance, and, while 
keeping a hand on the reins, should so far as possible 
keep in the background, that the children may learn 
to depend upon themselves and to do business wisely. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) How often shall business meetings be held ? 
{d ) Shall they be held in connection with the prayer- 
meetings ? 

(c) What business should be transacted at these meet- 

ings? 

(d) Who shall preside? 

( <f ) How much responsibility shall the children have 
for the business of the society ? 



CHAPTER XII. 

JUNIOR EXECUTIVE MEETINGS. 

Junior Executive Committee. — The Junior execu- 
tive committee, like the executive committee of the 
Young People's society, should consist of the officers 
of the society and of the chairmen of the different 
committees. They are really the mainspring of the 
society, and should be very carefully chosen. It 
should consist of the most responsible and reliable 
boys and girls in the society, and much should be in- 
trusted to them. 

How Often to Meet.— This committee should meet, 
if possible, once a month. Junior superintendents are 
usually very busy people, with more of other kinds of 
Christian work on their shoulders than ought to be 
there ; properly to conduct a Junior Endeavor society 
gives scope for all the abilities of one person without 
expecting other church-work from her. However, it 
usually happens that they are also Sunday-school 
teachers, and perhaps are doing much other work in 
the church ; and it may not be always possible for 
them to hold these meetings of the Junior executive 
committee as often as once a month. 

It certainly should not be less often than once in 
two months, and it might perhaps alternate with the 
regular business meetings of the society, letting the 
executive committee hold a meeting with the superin- 

92 



JUNIOR EXECUTIVE MEETINGS. 93 

tendent once a month, and the next month holding 
the regular business meeting with the society. These 
meetings should be carefully planned beforehand, that 
they may be of real benefit to those who shall take 
part in them, and a real help to the society. If the 
superintendent can invite the members of this com- 
mittee to her own house to tea, and after a little social 
time with them take up the business to be conducted, 
she will find herself becoming much better acquainted 
with the children than she can become in any number 
of meetings, and will hear much about their school and 
home life as they chatter together in this social way ; 
and this will help her to understand them and know 
how to help them. 

Plan for a Large Society. — Where a society is 
large and there are many committees, the executive 
committee may be so large that it is not easy to do 
this ; but in such a case it may be wise to let the 
executive committee consist only of the officers, and 
to invite to its meetings one or two chairmen of com- 
mittees each time, until every chairman has been in- 
vited once. In a small society, however, which has 
only four or five committees, these chairmen should be 
considered as belonging regularly to the executive 
committee, as in the older society. 

How to Conduct the Meeting. — These meetings 
should be conducted as are those of the Young People's 
society. Let the officers and the chairmen of com- 
mittees plan for these meetings beforehand, always 
watching the society meetings to see what topics they 
think need to be discussed. 

Let the superintendent also be on the watch, and let 



94 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

her bring before this committee some of the questions 
that perplex her in her guidance of the society as she 
can wisely present these to them. So far as possible, 
take these boys and girls into your confidence. Help 
them to feel that it is their society, not yours alone, 
and that they as well as you are responsible for the 
guidance of it. Bring up questions of finance, of good 
order, of winning new members, of helping all the 
members to greater faithfulness ; questions of their 
relation to the church as a society. 

Let the boys and girls themselves suggest ways of 
helping the church and the pastor and the Sunday- 
school. Help them to feel their responsibility as 
leaders in keeping up the tone of the society and in 
making it felt in the day-school. In short, let them be 
to the society in a small degree, and as children may, 
something of what the " pillars of the church " are to 
that organization and to their pastor. If you take this 
attitude with them, you will find it possible in time to 
lean upon these boys and girls as a real help in the 
administration of the society ; and they in their turn 
will learn to be efficient Christian workers, and to take 
their part in the life and business of the church when 
they are older. 

Who Should Preside. — Let the Junior president 
preside at these meetings of the executive committee, 
and let him conduct them as nearly as possible as the 
same meetings are conducted by the Young People's 
society. It would be a help to him if the president of 
the Young People's society would invite him occasion- 
ally to one of the meetings of the executive committee 
of the older society, and perhaps have some subject 



JUNIOR EXECUTIVE 3IEETING8. 95 

that is common to both societies discussed at such 
a meeting. 

Many questions can be frankly talked over at these 
httle cabinet meetings that cannot wisely be brought 
before the whole society ; and, if you trust the boys 
and girls, you will find that they can be trusted. 
Teach the president how to preside at these meetings, 
and let him learn here how to preside, that he may not 
need to lean at all upon the superintendent at the 
business meetings of the society, but may be able to 
do his work promptly and efficiently at those meet- 
ings. 

The Secretary's Part. — Let the secretary record the 
business transacted and the questions discussed at these 
meetings, and always at the meeting of the executive 
committee read a report of the last meeting. As has 
been said, there will sometimes be consultations and 
discussions at these meetings that could not wisely be 
considered in the general business meetings of the 
society, and sometimes there will be measures dis- 
cussed here that had better not be reported to the 
society in general ; but occasionally, at least, the 
secretary should report these meetings to the society, 
that all the boys and girls may know that these meet- 
ings are held, and that they have much to do with the 
welfare of the society. 

Make these little cabinet meetings a real power in 
the society, and put into them so much study and 
thought that they will really be of value to those who 
attend them. Study also to make them pleasant to 
the boys and girls who come, and make them oppor- 
tunities for getting closer to these Junior officers and 



96 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

committees, nearer to their hearts, and better informed 
as to their every-day Hves and the influence of the 
society upon their conduct. 

The Greatest Value of These Meetings. — Perhaps 
the greatest value of these little meetings is in the 
opportunity they give to the superintendent for an in- 
timate acquaintance and real friendship with these 
boys and girls, and the possibilities of giving them 
larger help than could be given if they were seen only 
in the meetings and sociables of the society. Some- 
times, too, invite the pastor to these meetings, and let 
the Junior president ask him to preside and to say to 
these leaders among the boys and girls some of 
the things that he would sometimes like to say to 
them, and to give them counsel and encouragement, 
and let it also help them to a sense of comradeship, 
not only with their superintendent, but also with their 
pastor in their work for Christ and his church. 

Questions for Review. 

(^) How shall the Junior executive committee be con- 
stituted ? 

( ^ ) How often shall this committee meet ? 

( ^ ) How shall these meetings be conducted ? 

\d) Who shall preside? 

(^) Shall the secretary report these meetings to the 
society ? 



CHAPTER XIII. 

COMMITTEE WORK. 

The Number of Committees. — There should be in 
each Junior Endeavor society just as many committees 
as are necessary in order to do the work committed 
to that society, and no more. Every active member 
of the society should be placed on some committee, 
and should be given some work to do, and should 
also be taught how to do it. The number of active 
members will therefore be an indication of the number 
of committees required in a society. As a rule there 
should be at least four or five members on each com- 
mittee, though if the society is very small three 
committee members will have to be enough ; but it is 
better to have a few committees, with members 
enough on each to do the work well, than to multiply 
the committees. The children should be taught that 
in doing this committee work they are really doing 
something for Christ and the church, and that they 
can best please Jesus by doing thorough work. 

Committee Work for Preparatory Members. — 
There should also be some work found for the 
preparatory members to do, though of course none of 
the very important work should be given to them. 

Some societies try the plan of putting all the boys 
who are in the preparatory membership on a Band of 
Mercy committee with an active member as chairman, 

97 



98 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

and all the preparatory members who are girls on a 
** helping-hand committee," with an active member 
also for their chairman, making it their work to help 
the sunshine committee whenever their help is needed. 
But, whatever committees may be used, let the 
thought always be kept before the children that love 
to Christ means service for Christ, and all this com- 
mittee work is only one way of showing our love 
to him by doing something to help in the work of the 
church. 

The Most Necessary Committees.— As has al- 
ready been said, each society should use such commit- 
tees as are necessary to keep all the members of the 
society at work ; but some committees are more 
important than others, and two or three are necessary 
to the work of the society, and should be appointed 
even if the society is so small that only one can be on 
each committee. Every society, however small its 
membership, should have a lookout committee and a 
prayer-meeting committee, and if possible a missionary 
committee: a lookout committee to keep its own 
membership faithful and to help to secure new 
members for the society ; the prayer-meeting com- 
mittee to do all they can to help make the prayer- 
meetings what they should be ; and a missionary com- 
mittee to remind them that they must reach out 
beyond their own borders, and do all they can to help 
win the world to Christ. 

It is difficult to say just which is the most impor- 
tant committee, though in general these three might 
be considered such, in the order named; but each 
child should be taught to consider his own committee 



COMMITTEE WORK, 99 

the most important one for him, since that is the work 
committed to him to do, and that society is the 
best whose members are most faithful in keeping their 
pledge and in doing the work assigned to them. 

How to Appoint the Committees. — The chairmen 
of these committees should usually be appointed 
by the superintendent. The other members of each 
committee might be chosen by the chairmen, consult- 
ing together with the superintendent, referring always 
to the superintendent for final decision in case it 
should happen that the same person should be chosen 
for two committees. In general it is wise to put 
those children on the same committee who will be 
likely to do the best work with one another and with 
the chairman of that committee, and so far as possible 
regard should be had to their own preferences in 
regard to the kind of work they shall do and the 
children they shall work with. Care should be taken, 
however, from year to year, that the children may 
work on several different committees in the course 
of their four or five years or more of membership 
in the Junior society, that they may learn how to do 
different kinds of work. 

Varieties of Committee Work. — These committees 
can all be trained to do real work, and work that 
is worth doing ; but it will necessitate much time and 
thought on the part of the superintendent or her 
helpers. In the following chapters certain definite 
plans of work will be suggested that can be adopted 
by different committees, and a wise and resourceful 
superintendent will be able of herself to suggest many 
variations and adaptations of these plans. What 
LofC. 



100 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

is suggested here is meant simply to show samples of 
work that has been done or that might be done 
by Junior committees ; but it is not necessary that 
any two societies should do their work in exactly the 
same way, or that any of these suggestions should be 
followed exactly as they are given, unless they are 
found just suitable for any society that may wish to 
try them. 

Who Should Direct the Committees.— All the 
committee work should be under the general supervi- 
sion and direction of the superintendent, but she should 
delegate the larger part of it to the Junior committee 
chosen from the older society to help her in her work. 
If there is no such committee in the older society, 
there should be one appointed if possible. Where 
this cannot be done, the superintendent should feel the 
care of the work, giving as much of the detail as pos- 
sible to the older Juniors. If there are two or three 
assistants, each one should have certain committees 
assigned to her, and should plan the work with the 
Juniors themselves. 

Varieties of Work for Juniors. — Many Juniors have 
already done much work for Christ and the church 
through these committees, and any superintendent 
who would like to know just what they are doing will 
find many samples of their work described in each 
number of Tke Christian Endeavor World and in TJie 
Junior Christian Endeavor World, Of course the 
work always varies with the different surroundings and 
possibilities of the different societies ; but it has been 
found that some very small societies and with many 
difficulties in their way have done very faithful work, 



COMMITTEE WORK, 101 

and have set an example that might well be followed 
by societies that are accomplishing less with larger 
opportunities. 

As examples of some of the different kinds of work 
that Juniors have done let me copy here a few extracts 
from a report given by a Junior superintendent of one 
of the Provinces in Canada, telling of work that had 
been done by the Juniors of one province alone. She 
reports thirty-eight Junior societies with a member- 
ship of about one thousand. She says : " We are 
able to report societies helping to pay church debts, 
making scrap-books for the sick and shut-ins, dressing 
dolls for Christmas trees, sending papers to the North- 
west and flowers to the sick in hospitals. One society 
furnished a cot in the hospital, and each week one or 
two of the committee visited the cot with something 
to please the sick children. Another provided fruit, 
vegetables, cake, etc., for the Old Folks' Home. Even 
our sailor friends were not forgotten, one society hav- 
ing made eighteen sailor bags and filled them for the 
sailors. 

" Some of the flower committees have taken bou- 
quets of flowers to the French missionary, who gives 
them to the sailors on the boats he meets. A card is 
attached, on which is written a verse of Scripture, — in 
French on one side and English on the other, — which 
is reported to be very much appreciated by the sailors. 
One society has sent away over six hundred pages of 
literature to lumber camps. Another society reports 
that nine boys made sixteen scrap-books and filled 
fifty marble-bags out of their own money. Some of 
our societies are taking up a systematic course of 



102 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

Bible-study, and, while most limit themselves to the 
topic books, one superintendent reports a departure. 
He says, * We have taken up the " Pilgrim's Progress " 
in the meeting, selecting the topics and references, and 
basing the talk (with blackboard illustrations) on the 
incidents of Pilgrim's journey. It proved very inter- 
esting.' These are only a few of the many good 
things that our Junior work has accomplished." 

If Juniors from one Province have accomplished all 
this, it is plain that the united efforts of our boys and 
girls the world around will result in great good. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) How many committees may there be in a society ? 

( ^ ) What committees are necessary ? 

(e) What are the most important committees? 

{d) Who shall select the members of committees ? 

le) What real work can these committees do ? 

(/ ) Who shall direct and plan this work ? 

Ig) Are any Juniors now doing real work for Christ 
through these committees ? 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE LOOKOUT COMMITTEE. 

How Chosen. — Since the lookout committee is one 
of the most important of all the committees, it should 
be very carefully selected. The superintendent herself 
should choose the chairman from among the older 
members, trying to find some one who is an earnest 
Christian boy or girl, and also one whose religion com- 
mends itself to the other children. The chairman of 
the lookout committee ought to be as wise and win- 
some a Christian as can be found among the active 
members, some one who will really try to help the 
other boys and girls to be faithful, and will do it in a 
pleasant way. If you cannot find a perfect saint 
among your boys and girls, take an imperfect one, and 
help him to feel that, if he is not a saint, he is called 
to be one and to help others to be saints, too. 

The superintendent should also keep in close touch 
with the chairman of the lookout committee, and 
should talk the work over with him carefully and 
prayerfully, both before he begins it and as often as 
possible in the course of the year. If you have chosen 
your chairman wisely, he may safely be trusted to 
choose others who shall work with him on the com- 
mittee, for the boys and girls know one another as 
well as any older friend can know them. As has been 
said before, the different chairmen of committees can, 

103 



104 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

if thought best, hold a meeting with their superin- 
tendent, and choose their helpers together. It should 
always be understood, however, that the superintend- 
ent has a controUing voice in deciding on which com- 
mittee each boy or girl shall work. 

Getting New Members. — A part of the work of 
the lookout committee as given in the constitution of 
the Junior Society is to help secure new members for 
the society. It cannot, of course, be left to the chil- 
dren to decide who shall become members ; but they 
can help by inviting other children to the meetings- 
and by teUing the superintendent of certain boys and 
girls they know who seem to them ready to become 
active members. In every society the rule should be 
that a boy or a girl must on first entering the society 
become a preparatory member for a time, till the su- 
perintendent has had a chance to judge of his fitness ; 
but any children may be invited to come to the meet- 
ings, even if they are not yet ready to become mem- 
bers ; and here the lookout committee can do good 
work by inviting children to come, and by waiting for 
them after school, or by calling at their homes and 
walking to the meeting with them when they go for 
the first time. It is quite possible, too, that the mem- 
bers of the lookout committee may know of some 
child who ought to be asked to become an active 
member. In such cases they should mention the 
names to the superintendent, from whom alone invita- 
tions to be active members should be given, and who 
should so far as possible be assured of the sincerity 
and earnestness of the child before giving the invita- 
tion. 



THE LOOKOUT C03IMITTEE, 105 

Securing Faithfulness to the Meetings. — Another 
duty of the lookout committee is to help the other 
Juniors to greater faithfulness in attending the meet- 
ings, and there is much that an earnest lookout com- 
mittee can do along this line. The chairman of the 
lookout committee should keep in a little blank book 
a list of the names of all the members of the society, 
active and preparatory, and should mark their attend- 
ance in her book. Each member of this committee 
should also be furnished with a little book, and each 
one should have a certain number of names written, 
and should keep the record of the attendance in this 
book. 

The lookout committee ought, if possible, to hold a 
five minutes' committee meeting after each regular 
meeting of the society, and then, going over their 
books together, find out what members are absent. 
The names should be divided among the committee, 
and each one should be expected to see certain ones 
and find out the reason of their absence. 

If thought best, a little card might be prepared, ask- 
ing for a written reason for absence, with blanks left 
to be filled up either by the absent member or by his 
or her parents. With such a card any member of the 
lookout committee could easily go to any absent 
member, and ask to have the blanks filled up ; but let 
the work of the lookout committee be clearly ex- 
plained to the whole society, so that they will know 
that these cards are coming, and will be prepared to 
fill out the blanks if for any reason they are absent. 

If a Junior is absent on account of sickness or ab- 
sence from town, the member of the committee who 



106 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

has his name might write opposite it on his book the 
word '* Excused." If the absence is for any other 
reason, the superintendent of the society should de- 
cide whether or not the absence was excusable ; and 
all of these excuse cards should as often as once a 
month be handed in to the superintendent, that she 
may learn easily and quickly just what reasons keep 
any of her Juniors away from the meetings. She will 
find on these excuse cards good texts for some of her 
subsequent talks to the children. 

Securing Faithfulness to Bible-Reading and 
Prayer. — Another duty of the lookout committee 
should be to do what they can to help the other 
Juniors to greater faithfulness in keeping their prom- 
ises in regard to daily Bible-reading and prayer. It 
might seem at first thought that there is nothing the 
boys and girls can do in this direction, but that such 
watchfulness of the children as this should be the duty 
of the superintendent. Of course all the work of the 
lookout committee must be done under the super- 
vision of the superintendent or of some older person ; 
but the records can be kept by the lookout committee, 
and through the superintendent they can keep watch 
of the work the children are doing. 

It is only the active members who take this pledge 
of Bible-reading and daily prayer, though all the 
children should be urged to consider this as a part of 
their daily duty and privilege ; but, since the active 
members are the only ones who are pledged to do it, 
there will not be so many names to be considered. 

A RoU-Call for Bible-Reading.— It might well be 
the custom that once every month, either at the 



THE LOOKOUT COMMITTEE. 107 

consecration meeting, or at the monthly business 
meeting, the roll of the society should be called, and 
each one should tell just where he is reading in the 
Bible, and the members of the lookout committee 
should write it down in their little books opposite the 
names. A separate place in their books might be kept 
where the names of the active members are written, 
and opposite each name the place where he was read- 
ing in the Bible at the last roll-call. In this way it is 
possible to know not only that the boys and girls are 
reading their Bibles, but also just how they are read- 
ing them, and whether they have any definite plan for 
their reading. This gives an opportunity also for the 
superintendent to suggest some good plan of Bible- 
study to those who have none, if they have not been 
helped in this way at home. In any case, do not let 
the boys and girls under your care form careless habits 
in reading their Bibles, if it is possible to help them 
to something better. 

How Juniors May Read the Bible. — For some 
children it is a good plan to begin their Bibles at the 
beginning and read them through ; for others it is 
perhaps better to suggest that they begin by reading 
the New Testament through, or even a single book 
of the New Testament; others may prefer to read 
each day the daily readings given in connection with 
their Sunday-school lessons or their Christian En- 
deavor topic. 

It might be made a part of the work of the prayer- 
meeting committee or of the lookout committee to 
write out copies of these suggested readings, and give 
one to each member for each month. Try to make 



108 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

sure that none of the Juniors form the careless habit 
of opening the Bible to any place where it may happen 
to open, and reading hastily a few verses there, with 
little or no thought of what they are reading. Such 
reading of their Bibles is very little better than no 
reading at all. 

Try also to form in the children the habit of read- 
ing the Bible every morning as well as every evening. 
Many children may say that they have not time to 
read it in the morning, but it does not take many 
minutes to read a single verse, or even two or three 
verses ; and, if the verse is carefully chosen, and is 
thought over a little during the day, it may be a real 
help to the child. 

Perhaps some children would find it a good plan to 
read the suggested Christian Endeavor reading in the 
morning, and then read the Bible in course at night. 
The reading in connection with the Christian En- 
deavor topic is usually very short. 

Promoting Better Christian Living. — The lookout 
committee should also be taught to feel that it is their 
duty to do all they can to help the other boys and 
girls to greater faithfulness in Christian living. The 
boys and girls cannot do this work by preaching ; but 
in little ways they can make their influence felt, and 
they can always feel that they of all members of the 
society must be sure to make their example what it 
should be. Sometimes, too, it will certainly be possi- 
ble for them to speak a word to some other boy or 
girl that will help him or her to decide for the right. 
Each one ought to be able to help his most intimate 
friend to right living and right thinking, both by words 



THE LOOKOUT COMMITTEE, 109 

and example and by silent influence. Try to help 
your lookout committee to feel their responsibility in 
this direction, and to be very much in earnest in doing 
this. Hold occasional little prayer-meetings just with 
the lookout committee alone, with this thought of 
faithfulness among themselves as their theme ; and 
help them also to feel that their faithfulness must show 
at home. 

How Junior Committees May Help. — As has al- 
ready been said, all this work should be under the gen- 
eral supervision of the superintendent, though, if the 
society is large, she may not be able to attend to the 
details of it. If there is a Junior committee, some 
member of that committee ought to feel it her espe- 
cial work to attend carefully to all the details of this 
work, meeting the lookout committee for five minutes 
after each meeting, and talking with them about the 
week's work, looking over the list of absentees and 
their excuses, and keeping careful record herself of 
their faithfulness in Bible-reading and prayer and in 
Christian living at home and school and in the society. 
With careful and prayerful supervision a Junior look- 
out committee ought to do very good work in the so- 
ciety, and in working for others ought to learn much 
of the beauty and joy of Christian service and 
Christian living. Try to accomplish this in your so- 
ciety. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) What children should be chosen for the lookout 

committee ? 
( ^ ) What can they properly do to secure new members ? 



110 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

( ^ ) How can they help other Juniors to be faithful in 

attending the meetings ? 
(</) How can they help them to be faithful in daily 

prayer and Bible-reading ? 
( ^ ) Who should direct the work of this committee ? 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE PRAYER-MEETING COMMITTEE. 

Choosing the Prayer-Meeting Committee. — The 
prayer-meeting committee should also be carefully 
chosen, the chairman being selected by the superin- 
tendent, and the other members chosen as may seem 
best, either by the chairman himself or by the superin- 
tendent. They should be among the older members 
of the society, old enough to feel some responsibility 
for the prayer-meeting and to know something of their 
own ability to help make it a good prayer-meeting. 

This is one of the committees where boys can be 
especially useful. In some societies the committee is 
made up wholly of boys, since there are many things 
that they can do to help the prayer-meeting, and since 
it is good for them to feel the responsibility for it. 
The boys should be taught that they will be expected, 
when they grow older, to be able to lead a church 
prayer-meeting and to help in many ways to make 
the church prayer-meeting what it should be. A boy 
who learns to take a helpful part in planning and 
carrying on the prayer-meeting is getting ready to be 
a helpful member of his church when he is older, and 
it is good for them to look forward to just such help- 
fulness in their own church. 

The Supervision of This Committee. — The work 
of this committee should be under the supervision of 

111 



112 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

some member of the Junior committee, who should 
consult with the superintendent, plan with the com- 
mittee, and hold occasional little special prayer-meet- 
ings with them, and help them to have a high ideal of 
what a good prayer-meeting is, and to know how to 
make a prayer-meeting what it should be. A bright, 
earnest Christian boy can do much for the prayer- 
meeting, and can help to interest and hold the other 
boys, if once his own sympathy and interest have been 
enlisted. 

Little Things That Help the Prayer-Meeting.— A 
wise superintendent will think of many things that 
this committee can do to help the prayer-meetings. 
It might well be their duty to arrive five minutes be- 
fore the meeting begins, and to see that the chairs or 
settees are properly arranged, and the Bibles and 
hymn-books ready. If the society is large, they might 
also help the lookout committee in keeping a record 
of those who are absent, and in seeing some of the 
absent ones with the excuse cards spoken of in the 
preceding chapter. 

This prayer-meeting committee, too, can do some- 
thing to help make the atmosphere right for the meet- 
ing by sitting near some of the younger children and 
helping to keep them quiet. They might also help in 
seating the late comers if the society is large, and be 
ready to look after visitors if any such shall come to 
the meetings. 

Sometimes, too, the superintendent may like to have 
a little of their help in blackboard work before the 
meeting begins, in writing out questions for her, or, if 
they are gifted in such work, in drawing illustrations 



THE PRAYER-MEETING C03IMITTEE. 113 

for her talk. This committee might also be appointed 
to write copies of the prayer-meeting topics to give to 
each active member, or to write on slips of paper 
Bible verses that the superintendent may want given 
out in the meeting. 

Helping Bible-Reading Habits. — In some societies 
it might be a good plan to appoint the prayer-meeting 
committee to write out beforehand on separate slips 
of paper copies of the suggested Sunday-school read- 
ings or Christian Endeavor readings to give to those 
active members who are using those topics for their 
daily Bible-reading. If for a month or a week at a 
time each active member had such a slip to keep in 
his Bible, he would be much less likely to forget his 
Bible-reading, and would be more likely to read regu- 
larly and methodically. It is so easy for a boy or a 
girl to lose the Sunday-school quarterly, or even the 
Junior topic book, and then get careless in Bible-read- 
ing because the topics are lost. 

How This Committee Can Help the Meeting. — 
So far we have been speaking of work that the prayer- 
meeting committee might do before the meeting be- 
gins, either in their own homes or in the prayer-meet- 
ing room ; but there are many ways in which an ear- 
nest prayer-meeting committee may not only prepare 
beforehand for the prayer-meeting, but may help to 
make the meeting itself what it should be. 

They can do something, at least by their own ex- 
ample, to help keep order in the room. If there are 
slips or cards to be passed around during the meeting, 
they can be ready for this service. They can always 
carefully prepare for their own part in the meeting, 



114 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

and have something helpful to say, and can say it in 
the beginning of the meeting, while the other mem- 
bers are hesitating as to what to say. 

They can also, if the superintendent desires it, take 
turns in bringing to the meeting some helpful clipping 
from T/ie Junior Christian Endeavor World, or from 
their missionary magazine, or they can act as an in- 
formation committee by giving each time one inter- 
esting item about some other society. 

Definite Work for Each Member. — In a society 
where the children are young, and have not much to 
say in the meeting, it might be well to give each mem- 
ber of the prayer-meeting committee something 
definite to report each time as his part of the meet- 
ing. One member might give one helpful thought 
from the last sermon he heard ; another might read 
one Junior letter from The Junior Christian Endeavor 
World ; another might give one item from some other 
Junior society; and others might give each of them 
one missionary item. In this way the prayer-meeting 
committee will always have something interesting and 
helpful to say. 

The members of this committee, too, ought always 
to be ready to lead in sentence prayers ; and they 
should be asked always to remember to pray for the 
meeting before they come to it. If the members of 
this committee are really Christian boys, as of course 
they should be before they become active members, 
they will be ready and willing to help in all these 
ways. 

Meetings of This Committee. — It is a good thing for 
this committee, as for every other, to hold frequent 



THE PBAYEB-MEETING COMMITTEE. 115 

committee meetings under the guidance of the super- 
intendent or some other older person who has the 
supervision of their work. These meetings of the 
prayer-meeting committee can be made very helpful 
occasions for these boys. When it is possible to do 
so, it is well to have them in the home of their leader, 
as has been suggested concerning other committees, 
that she may make it more of a social occasion and an 
opportunity for getting better acquainted with them 
than is possible in the larger meetings of the society, 
or even in a small committee meeting if it is held in 
the church. The children greatly appreciate such 
invitations, and it ought to be possible for most Junior 
workers to give them at least occasionally. 

Advantages of a Home Gathering. — In such a 
social home gathering it is possible to take time for a 
quiet, reverent prayer-meeting with the boys, in which 
they shall carefully and prayerfully plan their work for 
the next month, talking over the work they have tried 
to do, or failed to do, or neglected to do, and pray for 
help for more earnest, more willing, and more efficient 
service in the coming month. In such a quiet little 
meeting as this, with four or five boys alone, their 
superintendent ought to be able to get very near to 
their hearts, and to strengthen her own influence and 
the influence of the society upon them, and to stimu- 
late them to larger and better work for the society. 

If this earnest little prayer-meeting can be followed 
by a little supper, or by light refreshments of some 
kind, ai^d then by a pleasant social time, it will leave 
a doubly pleasant impression on their minds, and will 
be found very helpful. 



116 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

Some Shorter Committee Meetings. — But children 
are many, and workers are few, and of course it is not 
always possible to hold such gatherings as this ; yet 
our boys must have their committee meetings. Let 
it, then, be the custom to hold a five-minute committee 
meeting after each prayer-meeting or before it, and at 
least as often as once a month make it a fifteen- 
minute meeting. At such meetings it is possible to 
have reports of the work they have been doing, and to 
assign to each his work for the next month, and to 
have suggestions for the improvement of the prayer- 
meetings and prayers for the members. It might be 
well sometimes to let the boys tell you of anything 
they noticed in the last prayer-meeting that was not 
as it should be, and ask what they think could be done 
to remedy such defects. Help them in every way to 
feel that the prayer meeting is their special care, and 
that they are to think of it and to watch it, not to 
criticise, but to help improve it. 

Sometimes, too, have a special little prayer-meeting 
with this committee just before the regular meeting of 
the society, to pray for the meeting and for all who 
shall attend it. 

Flexibility Possible. — Many suggestions have been 
given in this chapter, and it may sound to some who 
read this as if too much were being asked of its mem- 
bers, and too many plans were proposed; but of 
course each society is to adopt only such suggestions 
as will be found really helpful in that society. A large 
society may find it possible and necessary to try many 
of these methods, while a smaller one, whose members 
live far apart, can try only one or two. Try any plans 



THE PRAYER-MEETING COMMITTEE. 117 

or variations of them that seem helpful to you for your 
society, and no others; only try in some way to make 
this committee feel that the prayer-meeting is theirs 
and that they are to help it in every possible way. 

Questions for Review. 

{a) Who should be chosen for this committee ? 
{b) Who shall direct their work ? 
( r ) What work can they do before the meeting ? 
( ^) Prayer-meetings for the prayer-meeting committee : 
how often ? how long ? when ? 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE SOCIETY. 

The Importance of This Work. — One of the most 
important parts of the work of the Junior Endeavor 
society is the training given to the children in mission- 
ary work. Every member who graduates from the 
Junior society should have some education in mis- 
sions ; and more, perhaps, than many of the older 
members of the church have to-day. They ought to 
learn in the Junior society not only to be interested in 
missions, but to have an intelligent knowledge of the 
work of their owa board, and of their own duty to- 
wards missionary work. This education should be 
given them by frequent missionary meetings and by 
various methods of work for missions that can be car- 
ried on through the missionary committee. 

Systematic and Proportionate Giving for Children. 
— A proper training in missionary work means first of 
all that the children should be trained to generous, 
systematic, and proportionate giving. Too many chil- 
dren give simply the money that their mothers have 
put into their hands to give, with very little thought 
about it. It cannot be really generous giving, so far as 
they themselves are concerned, unless they give some- 
thing that is their own, and give it because they really 
want to help to extend Christ's kingdom in the world. 

At least once in every year there ought to be a 

118 



THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE SOCIETY, 119 

Junior meeting devoted to this subject of giving, in 
which the different ways of giving should be carefully 
explained, and the boys and girls should be helped to 
see very plainly what Jesus would like to have them 
do ; and the first thing he wants is that they should 
give generously and heartily of what is their own. 
The gift may be small, and yet it may be a generous 
one, if it is the child's own, and is given in the right 
spirit. 

They should be taught, also, to have some system 
and proportion in their giving. The natural impulse 
of the human heart, old or young, seems to be to give 
to whatever object happens especially to interest the 
giver ; and to a certain extent this impulse is a right 
one, and should be yielded to ; but, if every Christian 
gave in this way and only in this way, there would 
probably be plenty of money for orphans and for 
fresh air, and perhaps for medical missionaries and 
city missions ; but it would be hard to find the money 
for plain, every-day mission work, and to erect and 
keep in repair suitable buildings, and to provide for 
touring and much of the routine of mission work, 
which must be provided for, but does not sound so 
romantic or interesting. 

Interest in the Church Boards to be Cultivated. — 
Every Christian ought to feel that he has a certain 
part of the responsibility for the work of his own 
boards, home and foreign, and he ought to feel just as 
anxious to do his part, so far as he is able, in keeping 
the missionary treasury free from debt as to keep his 
own private treasury provided for. A debt of his 
missionary board is his debt, and he should feel it so, 



120 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

and his boys and girls should be taught to feel 
it so. 

In planning their benevolence each year they should 
always plan to give a certain definite proportion of 
their money to the regular work of their own boards, 
reserving whatever proportion seems right for special 
causes that may appeal to them from time to time. 
Help the boys and girls to have a system in their giv- 
ing, and the benevolence of future years will not be so 
spasmodic and haphazard as much of the giving of 
these latter years has been. 

Education in Denominational Missions. — A good 
way to introduce the children to their missionary 
boards is to devote one prayer-meeting to that subject. 
Explain to them the organization of the boards, the 
field for which they are working, the number of work- 
ers they are employing, the yearly expense of the vari- 
ous missions, the sources from which the boards obtain 
the money to support all this work, and the responsi- 
bility of each church-member to help support this 
work. Tell them something of the history of their 
own board, and the motive which leads to all the work, 
until all this organized missionary work seems very 
clear to them, and they see plainly their own relation 
to the board. 

All this sounds rather dry, perhaps, told so con- 
cisely ; but the meeting may be made one of the most 
interesting of the year if you make it sufficiently 
realistic. Illustrate the meeting with maps and dia- 
grams, and pieces of money ; and put stickers on your 
map, or have some imaginary secretaries of the board 
visit your society and tell of their work ; or draw a 



THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE SOCIETY. 121 

tree, and let the trunk of the tree represent the board, 
and the branches and twigs the churches and indi- 
vidual members of the churches. Consecrated inge- 
nuity will find many ways of illustrating this meeting 
so as to make it intensely interesting. 

How Gifts May be Divided. — A plan that has been 
tried in some societies, and has been found helpful, is 
to divide into three parts all the money to be given 
away, giving one-third directly to the pledged work of 
the foreign missionary board, to be used for the regular 
work of the board, another third in the same way to 
the home missionary board, and using the last third 
for special gifts in our own land or other lands, which 
may enhst our sympathies, making the general divi- 
sion of the whole amount such that about half is spent 
in our own country and the other half in other lands. 

Such a division as this allows an opportunity to help 
Armenian or Hindoo orphans, or to make special gifts 
to missionaries, to fresh-air funds, or city missions, 
and similar causes that are always needing our help, 
and are always of interest, partly because they seem 
more tangible. If this plan does not commend itself 
to you, try some other ; but have a plan for your 
giving, and have some principle about it ; and do not 
let the boys and girls grow up with the habit of giving 
only by impulse to the cause which for the moment 
interests them most. 

Missionary Meetings: How Often. — Each Junior 
society must decide for itself how often a missionary 
meeting should be held; but, since our whole aim as 
Christian Endeavorers is to first give our own selves to 
the Lord, and then to lead to him as many others as 



122 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

possible, it would seem that the missionary work 
should have a large place in our thoughts and our 
prayers. Many societies think it best to have a mis- 
sionary meeting once every month, and others once 
in two or three months, having a regular day for it, so 
that the children may know just when to expect it, 
and taking such pains to make the meetings vivid and 
interesting that those meetings are the most attractive 
of the month. 

It is needless to say that the societies that do this 
are the ones that arouse the most interest in missions, 
and that, according to their means, give the most 
largely. The society that has only occasional mis- 
sionary meetings, and does not take much pains with 
those, cannot expect to have much interest in mis- 
sions. But in these days, when material for mission- 
ary meetings is so plentiful, a dull missionary meeting 
ought to be an impossibility for any live Junior 
society. 

How to Conduct Them. — The missionary meetings 
will naturally be conducted a little differently from the 
other meetings, and the children can take a larger part 
in them. It affords an opportunity, too, to let an oc- 
casional preparatory member take part in the meeting. 
Let a member of the missionary committee lead the 
missionary meeting, and let the members of the so- 
ciety take charge of the whole meeting. The superin- 
tendent should help them plan it; but, when it is 
planned, just as much of the carrying out of these 
plans as possible should be left to the children. 

Sometimes let the children imagine themselves mis- 
sionaries from different lands, and tell the story of their 



THE MISSIONABY WORK OF THE SOCIETY, 1Q3 

work. Sometimes hold a missionary convention, or 
an annual mission meeting, letting the children imagine 
themselves members of the mission, while they tell 
of their work of last year and their plans for next 
year. 

Sometimes have some little foreign guests at your 
meeting, letting some of the Juniors make believe that 
they are Chinese boys and girls, some of them from 
mission schools or hospitals, and others from heathen 
homes, and let them tell the story of their lives. 

Different Plans. — Sometimes have a biographical 
missionary meeting, having Livingstone and Moffat 
and Carey and Judson and others come to your meet- 
ing in the forms of some of your brightest Juniors. 
Sometimes make a missionary journey, visiting some 
special missionary in whom you want to interest your 
Juniors, or visiting just one city, and finding out just 
how many missionaries are there and what they are 
all doing. Material for such meetings can be found in 
almost any missionary magazines, by rewriting in the 
first person and simplifying some of the missionary 
letters, and also in the numerous missionary libraries. 
Your own missionary board can probably also send 
interesting material for a few cents. Home missionary 
meetings can also be planned in the same way. 

The Work of the Missionary Committee. — It 
should be the work of the missionary committee to 
plan with their superintendent the missionary meetings 
and to help carry out these plans, to prepare with the 
help of the superintendent or some member of the 
Junior committee a card for each member of the so- 
ciety, on which shall be written the name of one^ 



124 JUNIOR CEBISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

missionary whom he is requested to adopt for his own 
missionary, to pray for every day, and to become ac- 
quainted with through the missionary magazines. A 
pretty missionary picture pasted on this card will add 
to its attractiveness, and make it more probable that 
it will be preserved and the missionary remembered. 
The committee might well be recognized by the church 
as a part of the missionary work of the church, and 
in some churches it might be possible once in a while 
to give the Juniors a part in the monthly missionary 
meeting of the church. The superintendent should 
try, also, to keep this committee in touch with the 
other missionary organizations of the church so far as 
possible, that the whole church may be working to- 
gether for missions. 

Questions for Review. 

{a) How shall the children be educated in missions ? 

( ^ ) How shall they be trained to generous, systematic, 
and proportionate giving ? 

( ^ ) How shall the children become acquainted with their 
missionary boards ? 

(^) How shall they divide their money for benevo- 
lences ? 

( ^) How often should a missionary meeting be held ? 

(/) How shall the missionary meetings be conducted ? 



CHAPTER XVII. 

"the sunshine committee. 

A Committee for the Younger Children. — The sun- 
shine committee seems to be pre-eminently the chil- 
drens committee, and some of the younger Juniors 
can be assigned to it, with one older Junior as chair- 
man and some older person to supervise their work. 
The superintendent should always be ready to suggest 
work to this committee ; but some member of the 
Junior committee ought to be prepared to carry out 
these plans, since so many cares must of necessity 
come upon the superintendent. 

The work of this committee varies very much ac- 
cording to the community in which the children live, 
and the needs of their own church and of their neigh- 
bors'. In general, their work is to put as much bright- 
ness into the lives of other people as they can, and to 
be sunny, happy little Christians themselves. Just 
how they shall '' make sunshine" they must decide for 
themselves ; but any bright, earnest little Juniors will 
find plenty of ways to do it and plenty of places 
where more sunshine is needed. 

Sunshine at Home. — The very first place where 
each member of this committee should begin to make 
sunshine is in her own home. The superintendent 
should hold a little meeting with this committee alone, 
at the beginning of the year, talking with them very 

125 



126 JUNIOR CHBISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

simply about their work, and helping them to see that 
sunshine, hke charity, '' must begin at home,'' and not 
end there. Let the children themselves tell of some 
ways in which they can make their own homes brighter 
and happier. 

Ask whether they ever make clouds and darkness 
in the homes, and what kind of words and deeds make 
these clouds. Ask them to pray every day that God 
will make them sunny-hearted and glad to look at the 
bright side of things. Give each one a little sunshine 
card to keep at home, and let her mark it with a cross 
or a circle, according to her own judgment as to 
whether she has or has not really tried to be kind and 
unselfish and thoughtful for others in her own home. 
If she thinks at night that she has not tried very much, 
ask her to tell her Father in heaven that she is sorry 
and to pray for strength and willingness to do better 
the next day. 

A sunshine committee that is worthy of its name 
ought to make itself felt at home. It might be a good 
plan to send a card to the mother of each member of 
the sunshine committee, telHng her that her child is 
appointed to the sunshine committee and that the first 
duty of this committee is to make sunshine at home, 
and asking the mother to help her child in doing this 
and to suggest ways of doing it. 

Sunshine at School. — Another place which this 
committee can brighten is the Sunday-school and day- 
school. Some children are anything but sunbeams to 
their Sunday-school and day-school teachers ; but the 
members of this committee must feel it their duty to 
keep the shadows off as much as possible and to do 



TEE SUNSHINE COMMITTEE. 127 

what they can, by quiet attention and a knowledge of 
their lessons, to put brightness into the work of these 
teachers, who are trying to do so much for them. 

A member of the sunshine committee should feel 
that by abstaining so far as possible from whispering, 
and by sitting quietly in her place and listening when 
her teacher talks, and being ready to answer any ques- 
tion asked her, she can brighten her Sunday-school 
teacher's work. Such an example will do something 
towards helping other children to be more quiet and 
attentive, too, though, alas ! good examples are not 
always followed even by older people. 

In day-school, too, there are endless opportunities 
for the sunshine children to help by their words and 
their example, and by kindness and unselfishness in 
their play, and by a general spirit of helpfulness. It 
would not hurt the day-school teacher to be informed 
that certain children are on the Junior sunshine com- 
mittee, and that, if she will show them how, they 
really do want to make a little sunshine in school. 

Sunshine for the Aged. — These little sunbeams can 
do something, too, to make Hfe brighter for the old 
people in the church and for invalids and shut-ins. 
Sometimes a birthday card or an Easter or Christmas 
card sent to some invalid or aged person will brighten 
a lonely life. Sometimes it may be a little bouquet 
of wild flowers brought in from the woods, and some- 
times flowers from the child's own garden ; sometimes 
a little call made by the whole committee, if the super- 
intendent feels sure that it would be welcomed. Some 
Juniors have once in the year given a sociable to the 
old people of the church, and have entertained them 



128 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

in so bright and beautiful a way that it has made a very- 
happy occasion for those who greatly appreciate such 
little kindnesses. Teach the Juniors first of all to 
honor the grandparents in their own homes, and 
brighten their lives, and then to help carry happiness 
to other aged people. 

Sunshine for the Sick. — Often, too, there are in- 
valids who are very grateful for some little attention 
that the children can show to them. The days go 
slowly and wearily by to those who must spend thdir 
time in a sick-room, and something that pleasantly 
breaks the monotony comes Hke a ray of real sun- 
shine. Let the Juniors find out who in the commu- 
nity is sick, and occasionally send flowers or some lit- 
tle dehcacy, and, if thought best, go once in a while to 
call on the invaHd, and perhaps to sing one of their 
little songs, if desired. Always, however, before such 
visits are made the superintendent should find out 
whether they would be acceptable, that the children 
may go only to those places where their presence 
would really carry sunshine. 

Sometimes this sunshine committee might visit the 
hospital if there is one near them, and sing songs and 
leave flowers for those who care for them. In their 
own committee meetings they might prepare scrap- 
books, dress dolls, or make birthday or Easter or 
Christmas cards, for those children in the hospital who 
are well enough to care for such things. Let them 
think of anything that would amuse them if they were 
shut up in a hospital, and then prepare such things for 
the children there. 

Sunshine for the Missionaries. — This committee 



THE SUNSHINE COMMITTEE. 129 

can also do something to put brightness into mission- 
ary lives. They can send a pretty calendar, or a hand- 
kerchief, or a bit of ribbon, or some small book, or 
other little gift to some missionary as a reminder of 
their interest in her. It might be a good plan for them 
to celebrate their own birthdays by giving a birthday 
gift to the missionary in whom they are most inter- 
ested. They might also collect and prepare bright 
cards to be sent to missionaries to be used for Sunday- 
schools and reward cards. Every missionary can use 
an unlimited amount of such picture cards for rewards 
for the children in her field, and they will all be glad 
to get them. 

Advertisement cards can be prepared by pasting 
white paper over the back of each card, so that the 
missionary may write a verse there in the language of 
the people she works for. Any pretty bright-colored 
picture may be mounted on cardboard and used in this 
way, and every sunshine committee can find an unlim- 
ited amount of work of this kind. This committee, if 
it is composed of girls, can also do some missionary 
sewing. 

In India some missionaries are glad to get bright- 
colored bags made of cretonne or gingham for the 
school girls; and missionary magazines will tell of 
other wants, some of which this committee ought to 
be able to supply. 

There is also plenty of opportunity for the children 
to do this kind of work for home missionaries and so 
put some brightness into their lives. Ask the Ladies' 
Aid Society whether they are working for some 
home missionary ; and, if so, let the sunshine commit- 



130 JVmOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

tee tuck at least one little package into the home 
missionary barrel. 

Sunshine for the Pastor. — There are some things, 
too, that this committee can do for their church 
and their pastor. Let them remember their pastor's 
birthday with some Httle gift if they will, or at least 
with a birthday card, and perhaps a birthday letter 
to which each member of the committee will sign her 
name. Some birthday committees have a habit of 
sending an occasional little note to be laid on the 
pulpit for the pastor to find on Sunday morning, con- 
taining just a Bible verse that they think he will like, 
or a line or two from some sweet poem, with loving 
greetings from the sunshine committee. Sometimes 
they might send just a tiny bouquet of bright-colored 
flowers in a httle vase of their own, just for him, from 
his ** sunbeams." Let them in some way remember 
the pastor's wife when her birthday comes, if it is 
only with a card or some flowers; anything that 
shows the pastor or his wife that the children love 
them, and want to give them a little sunshine, will 
please them ; for it is love that makes sunshine every 
time. 

Sunshine for the Church. — There are little errands, 
too, that this committee may do for the church, and 
little services that they may render if they are on the 
watch for opportunities. In short, there is no limit 
to the possibilities of a happy, merry, little group of 
five children, who really are trying to make life 
brighter for those around them. Try any or all 
of these plans as you have opportunities, or make 
other plans of your own; but in some way help 



THE SUNSHINE COMMITTEE, 131 

the children who are on this committee to let their 
light shine. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) What is the work of this committee, and who shall 
direct it ? 

( /^ ) What can the members of this committee do at 
home ? 

( ^ ) What can they do in the day-school and Sunday- 
school ? 

(^) What can they do for the old people of the 
church ? 

( ^ ) What for invalids ? for hospitals ? for missions ? 

(/) What can they do for their pastor and their 
church ? 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

OTHER COMMITTEES. 

Number of Committees. — Besides the committees 
mentioned in the preceding chapters a Junior society 
should use as many other committees as may be 
needed in order that the society may do its best work. 
Some societies will need a great many committees, 
and others perhaps only two or three, and even then a 
very small society may be able to have only one or 
two members on each committee. Let each society 
consider carefully just what work it ought to do, and 
then appoint just the committees necessary to do that, 
and no more. 

Object of Committee Work. — ^Every active mem- 
ber should be placed on some committee; so the 
number of active members in a society will help to de- 
termine the number of committees needed by that 
society. The Juniors should be taught from the very 
beginning of their Christian Hves that love for Christ 
means also service for Christ ; that is what all our 
committees are for, and that is why each active 
member must be placed upon some committee, that 
he may be doing some definite work for Christ and 
the church ; and they should be taught to believe that 
all this committee work should be done heartily, as 
unto the Lord. 

Work for Preparatory Members. — There should 

132 



OTHER COMMITTEES. 133 

also be some work provided for the preparatory mem- 
bers, in the hope that, as they begin to work for 
Christ they may begin to love him, and may through 
the way of service come to him. Of course these 
preparatory members, who are not yet ready to call 
themselves Christians, cannot be trusted with such 
work as that done by the lookout and prayer-meeting 
committees, but there is other work that they can do. 
All the boys who are preparatory members might, if 
it were thought best, be placed upon a Band-of-Mercy 
committee, with an active member as chairman ; and 
it should be their work to take thoughtful care 
of their own pets at home, and so far as possible to 
remind their neighbors to do the same. It should 
also be their work to protect the squirrels and birds in 
their neighborhood from those who might be tempted 
to throw stones at them, or frighten them, or rob 
their nests. They might also learn how to draw birds 
around their homes in summer by planting wild 
berries or something of the sort, and in winter by put- 
ting out little food-boxes in the trees, and in summer 
by keeping a pan of water where the birds can bathe. 
Band-of-Mercy Committee. — They should also be 
careful always to be kind to stray dogs and cats and 
to every animal, and by their example and their 
w^ords should do all they can to protect all animals. 
Teach them that '^ mercy " means gentleness and 
kindness to the weak, and since they are the Band of 
Mercy they will not willingly see any creature more 
helpless than themselves in any suffering that they 
can prevent, and that they will also protect little boys 
and girls if they see them teased by older ones. Oc- 



134 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

casionally this committee might take the whole 
charge of a Band-of-Mercy meeting and do what they 
can to interest the whole society in this work. 

Helping-Hand Committee. — The girls who are 
preparatory members might all be placed on a 
helping-hand committee, or a whatsoever committee, 
with an active member for chairman ; and it might be 
their work to help any other committee which 
especially needs their help. Sometimes they could 
help the music committee in preparing a song for 
some special occasion ; sometimes they might help 
the missionary committee in preparing missionary 
cards or cutting out missionary pictures for a scrap- 
book. Sometimes they might help the sunshine 
committee when they are in any special haste in 
getting ready for Easter or Christmas or some special 
work. Let this committee become a real help to the 
society, and teach the committee that in doing this 
they are really working for Christ and his church. 

Music Committee. — The work of the music com- 
mittee is to make the music as good as possible in 
every meeting, and to provide special music for spe- 
cial occasions whenever it is needed. This committee 
might organize a Junior choir, which could lead the 
singing at every meeting, and could be ready to sing 
at any Sunday-school concert if the superintendent 
should desire it. Sometimes in a sociable this com- 
mittee might have some special music prepared. 

The Junior Choir. — It should be the business of 
this committee to know how many of the Juniors play 
on the piano or any other instrument, and which ones 
are the best singers ; and it might be well to have 



OTHER COMMITTEES, 135 

some special music at each sociable. Sometimes a 
musical charade or the game of magic music might 
be planned for a sociable ; and, if the Juniors give an 
annual entertainment, or celebrate their anniversary 
every year, they might provide special music for that 
occasion. In some societies, too, it might be possible 
for the music committee to arrange to go occasionally 
to some hospital or almshouse to sing for the inmates. 
The music committee might also choose a memory 
hymn for the society to learn each month, that the 
children may keep in their memories some of the 
grand old hymns of the church, such as *^ Nearer, my 
God, to thee," " Rock of Ages," and others. Prob- 
ably there are very few older people who could recite 
all the verses of even such a familiar hymn as " Rock 
of Ages " ; and there are not many, old or young, 
that can sing all the verses of '' America " without a 
book. Let the music committee do what it can to 
remedy this state of affairs in the future. 

Social Committee. — The social committee should 
provide for occasional sociables as frequently as the 
superintendent deems wise. These sociables might be 
held on a week-day afternoon after school, that the 
children may not be kept out in the evening. Indeed, 
for the younger Juniors these sociables ought always 
to be in the afternoon, and usually for the older ones, 
too, though these latter might perhaps have one or two 
evening sociables in the course of the year if their 
parents approve. 

These sociables should be made happy occasions for 
the boys and girls ; but they should be orderly, and 
only such games and amusements should be allowed 



136 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

as would be approved of by their parents and by the 
church. Do not let them be occasions for romping or 
rudeness, though even the best of children may be in- 
clined to be a little too hilarious when a crowd of them 
are gathered together for a good time. Have a care- 
fully prepared programme for each sociable, making it 
suitable for the place where it is to be held. Some- 
times what might be properly allowed in a home 
ought not to be allowed in a church. Help the chil- 
dren to have just as good a time as possible, and show 
them how to have the right kind of good time. 

Sociables. — Make your social times opportunities to 
get better acquainted with the children, for on these 
occasions you look at them from a different angle, 
and perhaps see a different side of their character. 
They will get better acquainted with their superin- 
tendent, too ; and such opportunities rightly used may 
help all to better work afterwards in the meetings. 
Allow at these socials any innocent games that are 
not too boisterous. Sometimes have an open-air 
social, and sometimes, if possible, a picnic. Perhaps 
some societies can occasionally make a trip together 
in the electric cars, and so have a trolley social, and in 
country societies it might be possible sometimes to 
have a sleigh-ride social. It is always helpful to have a 
carefully prepared programme for these occasions, 
knowing just what games and amusements will be 
allowed, that there may be no waiting at the time. 

Musical and Literary Sociables. — Sometimes it is 
well in these sociables to let the first half-hour be 
given up to musical and literary exercises by the 
children, letting those who take music lessons play 



OTHER COMMITTEES. 137 

the last pieces of music they learned. Sometimes a 
very little child might play the prettiest exercise he 
knows, and another little one might sing, and perhaps 
an older one might play something on the violin. 
Then there might be readings and recitations by the 
children, letting them recite some " memory gem " 
that they have learned in school. Then after this half- 
hour the rest of the time might be given to charades 
or shadow pictures or simple games. 

Missionary Socials. — Sometimes have a missionary 
social, letting the missionary committee help the social 
committee to prepare it and letting the children all 
acquire a little new missionary information while they 
are having a good time. 

Temperance Committee. — The temperance com- 
mittee should do all they can for the cause of temper- 
ance. With the help of the superintendent they 
should plan an occasional temperance meeting, and 
should, if thought best, circulate temperance pledges 
among the members, which the boys and girls should 
take home to show to their parents before they sign 
them. If thought best these pledges might be '' till 
the signer is twenty-one years old," for some would 
perhaps sign the pledge for that length of time who 
would not be willing to sign it for their whole lives. 
But it is quite probable that a boy who will sign and 
keep the pledge till he is twenty-one will then be 
ready to hold to it for the rest of his life. Keep the 
Juniors informed through this committee of the work 
of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and 
other temperance organizations, and of the temperance 
laws in their own State and city, and let them some- 



138 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

times take a vote by ballot on what they think the 
law should be in their own State or city. 

Unusual Comniittees. — Some societies in excep- 
tional circumstances make use of many other commit- 
tees, some of them being quite unusual ones. For in- 
stance, I have heard of a laundry committee in Japan, 
and of a peace committee in China, and of a cutting- 
hair committee and a harmony committee, and visit- 
ing committees and relief committees in other lands. 
Invent your own committees if you can find a use for 
any kind of Christian work that can better be described 
by some name that has not been used here; but re- 
member always that the object of all this committee 
work is to set the children at work for Christ, and to 
help them always to show their love for Christ by 
service for him. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) What other committees might be used in a society 

if desired? 
{b) How many of the active members should be placed 

on committees? 
( ^ ) What work can the preparatory members do ? 
[d) What is the work of the music committee? 
( ^ ) The social committee ? 

(/ ) The Band-of-Mercy and temperance committees ? 
(^) What are some unusual committees that have been 

employed? 



CHAPTER XIX. 

JUNIOR FINANCES. 

The subject of Junior finances is one that should be 
well considered. While the average Junior society 
does not need a great amount of money, yet it does 
need some ; and this amount ought to be raised in a 
way that will be approved of by every Christian, and 
it ought to be considered as legitimate and as neces- 
sary as any work connected with the society. 

Need of Money. — The society must have a small 
amount of money for its own expenses, varying with 
the size of the society. There is some printing that 
ought to be done, and probably every society could 
wisely make more use than it does of printer's ink, if 
it had the money. The printed prayer-meeting topics 
published by the United Society of Christian Endeavor 
are used by most Junior societies ; and, though these 
do not cost much, yet they cost something and should 
be provided. There should also be some money that 
could be used in providing for a sociable at least once 
a year, though it is by no means necessary that there 
should be something to eat at every Junior social. 
Sometimes, too, the Juniors need new hymn-books, or 
something else that will help them in their work ; and 
such things should be provided. The society ought 
also to give away some money every year, but that of 
course is a different matter, for the children themselves 

139 



140 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

should in some way provide the money they wish to 
give away. If it is ca//ed their gift, it should be in 
reality their gift. 

W^ays of Providing for Society Expenses. — There 
are different ways of raising the money for the society 
expenses. Perhaps the best way is for the church to 
pay the bills just as it pays the Sunday-school bills. 
If in the judgment of the church the Junior society is 
doing a good work for the children, it ought to be 
supported ; and, if it is not doing good work, then the 
church through the pastor or the older society should 
find out what is the trouble, and help to make things 
better. In some churches it is the custom for the 
older society to pay the expenses of the Junior society, 
and there are churches where the Junior superintend- 
ents pay these expenses out of their own pockets. 
Perhaps the children could earn enough money to pay 
their own expenses ; but, since it is of necessity very 
little that they can earn or give, it seems better that 
they should give their money in benevolence, looking 
to the church for their own support just as in the home 
they look to their parents for support. In any case, 
the expenses of the average society are so small that 
there ought not to be any difficulty in providing for 
them. 

How to Earn Missionary Money. — But the mission- 
ary money that they are to give away is another mat- 
ter. Let that be their own gift, and help them to give 
generously and wisely, and with some self-sacrifice in 
time and money. Various plans for raising this money 
have been tried in different societies, such as giving 
out five-cent pieces for the children to invest in trad- 



JUNIOR FINANCES. 141 

ing, and holding little sales and other schemes of this 
sort, many of which are more or less open to objec- 
tion ; but each society must decide for itself what is 
the best and most Christian way for the children to 
earn their missionary money. It would be a good 
plan at the beginning of each year to make the ques- 
tion of giving the subject of one meeting, and talk it 
all over prayerfully and carefully with the children, 
and help them up to the highest standard of Christian 
giving. Here are four plans that are suggested as 
possible and feasible, and good for most societies. 

Giving the Tithe. — i. Ask each child who is will- 
ing to do so to pledge one-tenth of his income to the 
Lord. Explain that for them " income " means any 
money that " comes in " to them to do what they 
please with. Money that is given to them for a defi- 
nite object must of course be used for that object; but 
money that is their own to use as they please can be 
tithed, and there ought to be a good many among the 
Juniors who would be willing to pledge themselves to 
do that. If they are unwilling, ask them to pledge it 
for one month or for three months on trial, and then 
perhaps they will be wilHng to continue it. 

If any children are unwilling to take this pledge 
even for one month, perhaps they will be willing to 
promise to give to the Lord at least one cent a week 
out of their very own money. Try in some way to 
persuade them to begin by giving their own money to 
the Lord, cheerfully and heartily, because they love 
him. 

Giving Time to the Lord. — 2. After the children 
have given all they can of their own money, the total 



142 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

amount will probably be much smaller than what they 
would like to give away ; so this second plan may be 
suggested to them. Ask each one who is willing to 
promise at least a half-hour of his time to the Lord 
every week. He may give the whole half-hour on 
Saturday, or five minutes each week-day, as seems 
best ; and let him try in that time to earn some money 
for missions. 

Many parents would be willing to pay their children 
at the rate of ten or twelve cents an hour for certain 
definite work regularly and faithfully done. Many 
parents are already doing that, that their children may 
earn some money for their own pleasure. Ask the 
children to give this one half-hour every week just to 
earn money for the Lord, not keeping any part of the 
amount for themselves. Just that one half-hour is the 
Lord's, and they can work other half-hours for them- 
selves if they can find opportunity. It may not be 
possible for all your Juniors to try this plan, but prob- 
ably some of them can. Some Juniors are already 
earning money by distributing papers, or running 
errands, or some other work. Ask them to accept 
this plan also ; and, even if only a few of your Juniors 
do it, you will have added something to the missionary 
treasury, and the Juniors will have learned something 
more of the pleasure of service for Christ. 

Mite-Boxes. — 3. Let each child have a mite-box 
in which to keep his missionary earnings. You can 
get the boxes from your own missionary board, or 
your sunshine or whatsoever committee can make 
them. Let each child keep his mite-box in a con- 
spicuous place at home, and talk about it till every 



JUNIOR FINANCES. 143 

member of the household knows what it is for, and 
occasionally pass it to his parents, or to some older 
friends, that they may have an opportunity to con- 
tribute. Some parents and older brothers and sisters 
might be glad to celebrate birthdays by putting in as 
many pennies as they are years old. Of course the 
children must be told that they are not to be too 
urg,ent in their pleas for these gifts from their elders, 
but it can do no harm to give these an occasional op- 
portunity to make such a gift, especially as in many 
families these same elders are giving nothing to mis- 
sions. It may be objected to this plan that the chil- 
dren ought to give their money themselves, and not 
ask it of the parents ; but remember that they are not 
to pass around their mite-boxes till they have first 
given what they can themselves. This is not the first 
plan suggested, but the third. 

Entertainments.— 4. If, having tried these three 
plans, the children's offering is still smaller than it 
ought to be, it may be thought best in some societies 
to have an entertainment and raise some money in 
that way. If you do this, try to make it also a lesson 
in giving. Teach the children that they can please 
Jesus by trying for his sake to earn money in this 
way, and by doing their share of the work heartily, as 
unto the Lord. For it means real work, and it is pos- 
sible to have this work so done that it will mean to 
the children real missionary Christian service. 

Have your entertainment suitable to the place where 
it is held, and have nothing in it that any parent can 
object to. Plan it so that the children may give as lit- 
tle thought as possible to themselves or their dress, but 



144 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

rather to the story they are telHng or the pleasure 
they are giving. Charge a small admission, and make 
all those who come feel that they are getting their 
money's worth of pleasure. 

There are many missionary entertainments that 
might be so planned that, while being exceedingly in- 
teresting to those who attend, they will also teach a 
missionary lesson to the children who take part. A 
literary or musical entertainment may be so planned 
as to be a real education to the children, and yet be 
very bright and amusing. Of course, a good enter- 
tainment means a certain amount of time for re- 
hearsals, and sometimes these rehearsals must come at 
a time when the children would rather play ; but, if 
for Christ's sake they are willing to give up some of 
their playtime to these rehearsals, that they may help 
the children who never heard of Him, it is real Chris- 
tian service. 

If this thought of doing it all for Christ's sake is 
kept before the children and before their superintend- 
ent, in planning and arranging for such an entertain- 
ment, there will be little danger of putting anything 
objectionable into it. 

Reasons for an Entertainment Rather than a Sale. 
— I have suggested in this fourth plan an entertain- 
ment rather than a sale because it seems more prob- 
able that the children can give to those who patronize 
them the honest value of their money by an entertain- 
ment than that they could do so by a sale. 

There are few things that children can make that 
their elders really want to buy, and there is much danger 
of putting too large a price on their work, or of too 



JUNIOR FINANCES. 145 

much urging to buyers ; and even those who are glad 
to do it for the sake of helping the children often buy 
things that they care nothing for, and do not know 
what to do with ; whereas almost any kind of an en- 
tertainment in which the children take part is sure to 
be of interest to their elders ; and, if the price of ad- 
mission is not more than fifteen or twenty-five cents, 
it is highly probable that those who go will get the 
full value of their money. Even those who buy 
tickets simply to please the children, and do not care 
to go themselves, can usually find some one to whom 
to give the ticket who does care to go, and is pleased 
and grateful. In this case as in all others, however, 
the children should be cautioned not to urge their 
wares upon unwilling buyers. Let them simply offer 
their tickets ; and, if people do not wish to buy, let 
them accept the decision promptly and cheerfully. 

A combination of these four plans, wisely and 
prayerfully carried out, ought to bring more than the 
usual amount of missionary money into almost any 
Junior treasury. 

Right Methods of Raising Money In general, any 

method of raising money is right if it commends itself 
to an educated, sensitive conscience, and if your church 
and your pastor see no objection. Certainly the chil- 
dren should not use questionable methods. If you are 
in grave doubt about your plans, give them up, and 
try something else. Teach the children to be busi- 
nessHke in their business, and fair and just in all their 
money matters. 

Help them to have a real principle in everything 
connected with the raising of money and the spending 



146 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

of it, and help them to see that money in itself is 
nothing, and that the love of it is the *' root of all 
evil." It is valuable only for what it will do ; and, 
since most of us have not a large amount of it, we 
must use wisely what we have, and must not try to get 
it from others, except for a fair and honest equivalent. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) How shall the Junior money be raised ? 

( b ) What use has the society for raising money ? 

( ^ ) Who shall pay the society expenses ? 

( ^ ) How shall the missionary money be raised ? 

( ^ ) What are some right and wrong methods of raising 

money ? 

(/ ) Should money be raised by entertainments ? 



CHAPTER XX. 

JUNIOR SOCIABLES. 

How Often to Hold Sociables. — The Junior soci- 
ables may be made a very helpful feature of the Junior 
Endeavor work if rightly managed. Just how often 
these Junior sociables shall be held must be decided by 
those who have them in charge ; but in general it may 
be said that they should be held just as often as is ad- 
vantageous for your society, always remembering that 
they are of secondary importance in your work, and 
are of value only as they are a real help in your work 
for the children. 

Some societies hold a sociable every month, and 
others hold only one or two in the course of a year. 
It should depend partly upon these questions : How 
many other social occasions do your children have to 
take up their time and their minds ? As you conduct 
them, do you find them a real help in your Junior 
work ? 

Unless your children are mostly from the older boys 
and girls, these sociables ought usually to be held in 
the afternoon, at least in the winter months. In some 
societies they take the place immediately after the 
regular weekly meeting, making that meeting a little 
shorter if need be. Of course this plan can be fol- 
lowed only by those societies that hold their meeting 
on a week-day, but almost any society could plan for a 

147 



148 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

Saturday afternoon sociable, and could make it a very 
happy time for the children. Where the society is 
composed almost wholly of older boys and girls, it 
might perhaps be held at an early hour in the even- 
ing ; but as a rule there are more things to take the 
children out in the evening than their parents approve 
of, and the Junior superintendent ought not to add 
another unless she knows that the parents are willing. 

Junior Social Committee. — These sociables for the 
children should always be under the charge of some 
older person. In a general way this like all the other 
Junior work should be under the supervision of the 
superintendent, but she may well leave the details in 
the hands of her helpers. The Junior social com- 
mittee should feel the responsibility of planning the 
entertainment with the young lady from the Junior 
committee who has been appointed to help them. 
This older helper should feel herself responsible for the 
games chosen and for keeping a reasonable amount of 
order during the sociable, allowing no game or amuse- 
ment that is likely to lead to too much boisterousness 
or confusion for the place where these gatherings must 
be held, and providing as much variety as possible. 
She should also feel a care for all the work of the 
social committee, such as making new members feel 
acquainted and at home, and helping children who 
may have recently come into town, or into the church 
or Sunday-school, to feel that they are among friends. 
Try in every way to cultivate a spirit of real friendli- 
ness among the members of this committee. 

Sociables : How Carried on. — The sociables may 
consist of games, or musical or literary entertainment, 



JUNIOR SOCIABLES. 149 

or shadow pictures, or any kind of good time that 
children hke and that is suitable for the gathering- 
place. Of course, if the meetings are held in the 
ladies' parlor of the church, or in the Sunday-school 
room, they will have to be planned a httle differently 
from those held in a private parlor. The sociables 
should not be held too long, especially if for any 
reason they are held in the evening ; and, while they 
should be really *' good times,'' as children understand 
those words, yet the one who conducts them should 
be very strict in ruling out everything that the parents 
or the pastor would think improper or unsuitable. 

There are plenty of games and amusements that are 
perfectly suitable and pleasant and amusing. Some 
societies make their sociables consist largely of recita- 
tions and readings and music, letting the children give 
selections that they have learned in school or with 
their music-teachers. Others provide suitable games, 
or shadow pictures, with an occasional stereopticon or 
graphophone entertainment, or something of that sort. 
You will find among the publications of the United 
Society of Christian Endeavor two or three little 
books that are full of suggestions for such gatherings.^ 

Who May Attend Sociables. — Different societies 
differ in their opinion as to who should be invited to 
these sociables, some opening their doors very wide 
that any children who wish may enter, and others 
limiting the attendance strictly to their own members. 
Of course it is understood in the beginning that only 
those children should come to whom these gatherings 

^ " Social Evenings," *' Social to Save," and " Eighty Pleasant Even- 
ings " ; thirty-five cents each. 



150 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

will be helpful in some way, and also that no children 
should attend them without an invitation. 

These social gatherings should be considered as 
tools to help in our work, and unless they do that it is 
useless to hold them. Consider this question of invi- 
tations in the light of that thought, and you will be 
likely to make them include the right children. They 
ought, however, to be considered as a special treat ; 
and the children will be more likely to think of them 
in that way if they can come only by invitation, rather 
than if any child who wishes may attend, whether he 
ever attends the meetings or not. 

It is not necessary to send written invitations every 
time, though in small societies it might perhaps be 
well to do so, but ordinarily the invitations can be 
given to the children all at once at one of their regular 
meetings. The invitation ought usually to include all 
the active and preparatory members, and some who 
are not members at all ; but as a rule do not invite to 
these gatherings children who have never attended the 
meetings and are not likely to do so. 

Require of the children who come that they shall 
have attended some of the prayer-meetings, and that 
at least they have the intention to attend regularly. 
Notice any strangers who come to the sociables, and 
learn their names ; ask whether this means that here- 
after they expect to attend the prayer-meetings. If 
so, you are very glad to see them ; or, if they are 
strangers in town and have come with some little 
friend, they are welcome; but let them distinctly 
understand that the sociables are not for those chil- 
dren who want only sociables and no prayer-meetings. 



JUNIOR SOCIABLES. 151 

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that 
these sociables may perhaps be used to draw childrerl 
into the meetings who otherwise would never think 
of coming. On this account take pains sometimes to 
send special invitations, perhaps written ones, to any 
children of whom you know, who ought to come to 
the meetings ; and tell them in your invitations that 
you hope they will have so good a time that they will 
want to come to the meetings afterwards. 

Value of Sociables. — If the sociables are wisely 
planned, two or three objects ought to be accomplished 
by holding them. They ought to mean such happy 
good times to the children that even those who care 
nothing for the meetings will think it worth while to 
belong, if only for the sake of coming to the sociables. 
The preparatory membership has room for even 
such children as these ; and, if they will make the 
two promises required for that membership, then you 
have a hold on them and an opportunity to help them 
acquire an appetite for better things. 

These sociables, too, afford opportunities for getting 
acquainted with the children in a way that would be 
impossible to one seeing them only at the meetings, 
and by entering heartily into their happy good times 
in this way a superintendent may sometimes get nearer 
to the hearts of some of the children than she ever 
could in any other way. For this reason all the super- 
intendents should try to be at the sociables every time 
if it is possible. These sociables also help the chil- 
dren to get better acquainted with one another. 
There are, of course, a few children who seem to 
know almost everybody, and there are others who 



152 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

have their own special intimate friends ; but at these 
sociables, at least, they all ought to be intimate 
friends, all trying to make every one else have 
a good time. Incidentally, too, these sociables may 
be made occasions when the children will uncon- 
sciously learn lessons in Christian courtesy and in gen- 
tleness and unselfishness and fairness in play. Teach 
these lessons quietly, without saying much about it, 
through these sociables, to all your Juniors, beginning 
with the social committee. 

Education by Sociables. — But it may be said that, 
if these sociables are to be made occasions for incul- 
cating moral lessons, there is danger that they will 
soon become so dull that the children will not care to 
attend them ; but this by no means follows. It is 
quite possible to make these sociables educative in 
many ways, and at the same time very interesting and 
amusing, if they are planned with those purposes in 
mind. Of course the lessons in unselfishness, etc., will 
not be spoken lessons very often, but the children will 
unconsciously learn many of these lessons if the socia- 
bles are rightly conducted. 

But a sociable may be made instructive as well as 
amusing. For instance, at one sociable try an old- 
fashioned spelling-match for fifteen minutes or half an 
hour, letting the Juniors choose sides and letting that 
side be considered victorious which is the largest at 
the end of the half-hour. Perhaps it might be well to 
get for such a sociable a list of some words that have 
been misspelled in school within a few days. Any 
day-school teacher would furnish you with such a list. 
Don't tell the children, however, that you are doing 



JUNIOR SOCIABLES. 153 

this. Learn the art of teaching your lessons without 
letting the children know that you meant to teach 
them. At another sociable one of the games might 
be a geographical game for which sides are chosen 
and judges appointed. 

At another sociable give out missionary names to 
one set of children and to another set the names of 
the stations where the missionaries live, and let each 
one find her mate. But you will find in the books and 
booklets published by the United Society of Christian 
Endeavor especially for the social committee plenty of 
suggestions for all kinds of games, amusing and instruc- 
tive and entertaining. 

Real Object of All the Sociables. — Incidentally these 
sociables will help the Christian lives of the children, 
if the effort is made to have them teach such lessons 
as have been suggested. If one requisite for every 
game is that it shall be played fairly, the children will 
learn lessons in honesty. Sometimes, too, a story can 
be read which teaches a helpful lesson and is at the 
same time very bright and interesting. Sometimes 
stop in the middle of such a story, and let the children 
guess how it comes out, and tell how they would make 
it come out. Sometimes read half of a bright story, 
and appoint four or five of the older children to write 
a conclusion to it in five minutes, and give a prize to 
the one that the children vote to be the best. 

But many of these moral lessons are and of neces- 
sity must be mainly incidental. Make the real object 
of your sociables to win the hearts of as many chil- 
dren as possible, that, having so won them, you may 
be able to win them for Christ, 



154 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) How often shall sociables be held ? 

( /^ ) Who shall have charge of them ? 

( ^ ) How shall they be conducted ? 

( rtf) What kind of games may be allowed? 

( ^ ) Who should be invited to these sociables? 

(/) What is the object of all the sociables? 

(^) Can these sociables be made both amusing and in- 
structive ? 

( A ) Can they in any way help the religious work of the 
society ? 



CHAPTER XXI. 

GRADUATION. 

Age at Graduation. — The question of the age of 
the Juniors is a variable one according to conditions 
and circumstances, but the members should usually be 
included within the ages of five and fifteen. Some 
societies graduate their Juniors at fourteen and some 
at fifteen or even sixteen ; but, if there are many little 
children in the society, — and there ought to be in most 
societies, — it would seem that the limit ought not to 
be above fifteen, and in many cases fourteen would be 
better. 

It is not necessary, however, to draw a hard and 
fast line which can never under any circumstances be 
crossed. Make your regular limit fourteen or fifteen 
as you think best, but in special circumstances for spe- 
cial reasons make exceptions if it seems best. Some 
children are brighter than others, and some are more 
earnest than others ; and in uncertain cases do what 
in your best judgment seems best for the particular 
child and for the whole society. As a rule, however, 
every child ought to stay in the Junior society at 
least till he is old enough to enter the high school, 
which some societies make the dividing line; and 
most children ought to go then, even if they might 
like to stay a little longer in the Junior society. 

If a member who is over fifteen expresses a 

155 



156 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEA VOR. 

preference for the Junior society, have a quiet little 
talk with him and find his reasons ; and, if they seem 
to you good ones, and you believe that on the whole 
it would be better for him to remain a Junior a Httle 
longer, let him do so. It is better, however, to have a 
definite rule and adhere to it as closely as circum- 
stances will permit, and, when you make exceptions, 
have a special vote to suspend the rule for that occa- 
sion for reasons that seem to you wise and good. 

Ask the older society to help you in keeping the 
Juniors in their own society as long as may seem best 
by voting not to receive any children until they have 
reached a certain age, unless by special request of the 
Junior superintendent. Then the children themselves 
will have a clear understanding that unless there is 
some special reason for making a change they are ex- 
pected to enter the Junior society as little children and 
to stay there until they are fourteen or fifteen, and then 
to graduate at once into the older society. Try so to 
plan for them, and talk things over with them as a 
matter of course, that it will never occur to them that 
they could drop out wholly, as some children have 
done when they began to feel themselves too old for 
the Junior society. 

Preparation for Graduation. — The children ought 
not, however, to enter the older society without a little 
special preparation. It is a good plan to have regular 
times for graduation twice a year, so that several chil- 
dren shall graduate together, and shall expect to go 
into the older society at a special time. It is much 
easier, too, for the children themselves to go in little 
companies of two or three or more, than for each one 



GRADUATION. 157 

to graduate separately when he reaches the required 
age. 

Christian Endeavor Day is a good time to take this 
advance step, and is about in the middle of the church 
year, and the last Sunday in June is better than the 
first in September or October, because there is a little 
danger that in their summer absence from home and 
from the society some of the children might find their 
good resolutions oozing out, and might incline to drop 
out entirely. It is better to advance them in June be- 
fore they scatter for the vacation, and then when they 
come back they are already members of the older so- 
ciety, and are all ready to take their place in its work. 
If you choose these dates, begin just after the Week 
of Prayer to prepare your graduation class. Invite 
all those children who have become fourteen since last 
June to stop for a little after-meeting when the other 
children go home. At this little meeting, where you 
will have perhaps only two or three or half a dozen, 
the children will talk frankly and freely. 

Take time to talk over thoroughly the pledge as 
used in the older society, and the respects in which it 
differs from the Junior pledge. Show them that going 
into the older society means promotion to larger and 
higher service; it means promising something more, 
and it means doing more and better committee work. 
Find out what part of the pledge they find it hardest 
to promise, and strengthen them in the places where 
they most need it. If they dread taking part in the 
meeting of the older ones, suggest that they take part 
in the very first part of the meeting. 

Urge that they begin in the very first meeting to 



158 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

express at least one thought on the topic, and not be 
content with saying just a Bible verse. If they are 
troubled about the '' regular Sunday and mid-week 
services," talk that over with them, and show them 
that if they are Christians they ought to attend these 
meetings, whether they promise it or not. While they 
were little children, perhaps they could not go regu- 
larly to evening meetings ; but they are older now, 
and they can be promoted to that larger service. 
Help them to think of it all as an honor and a privi- 
lege to serve God in this larger way. 

Perhaps you can help them by also speaking a word 
to their Sunday-school teachers and by suggesting 
that, whenever they can do so, they take two or three 
minutes of their time in Sunday-school in talking over 
the Endeavor topic, and so help their scholars to have 
a thought on the topic that they can express. If nec- 
essary, have two or three of these little after-meetings 
with this graduating class. Take it for granted that 
they are all going to graduate into the older society, 
unless there is some special reason why they should 
remain Juniors for a little time ; but do not suggest 
the possibility of their dropping out. There is much 
less danger that they will want to drop out when sev- 
eral graduate together than there would be if each one 
should graduate when he reaches the proper age, and 
the graduation can also wisely be made a special occa- 
sion in the older society when these new recruits are 
taken into the ranks. 

Graduation Exercises. — Different societies have 
their own graduation exercises for the boys and girls 
who leave them, and many different methods of wel- 



GE ALU AVION. 159 

coming them into the older society have been tried. 
The simplest are probably the best, but it is wise to 
mark the occasion in some way. At the last Junior 
meeting when these children attend have some spe- 
cial exercises. Perhaps have a special graduation song 
that may be sung while the graduates stand, and then 
let the superintendent or some of her helpers offer a 
prayer for these boys and girls who are going to be 
promoted to larger and higher service, that they may 
be found faithful, and may be helpful and useful and 
consistent members of the older society to which 
they go. 

If there are any preparatory members to graduate, 
have another prayer for them that in the older society 
they may be led to give themselves to Christ, and to 
place themselves on the side with those who love his 
service. But, if faithful work has been done in the 
Junior society, there ought not to be many prepara- 
tory members to graduate. The hearts of little chil- 
dren are easily reached, and it ought to be possible to 
lead them to Christ before they are old enough to 
graduate. Strive and pray to do this in your society. 

In some special way these graduate Juniors should 
also be welcomed into the older society, with some 
song of welcome, or words of welcome by the pastor, 
and perhaps with some little token of welcome. Per- 
haps the best thing to give to these new Christian En- 
deavorers is the little booklet by Prof. Amos R. 
Wells, called " The Endeavor Greeting," which wel- 
comes them to membership and very helpfully sug- 
gests ways of working. Some societies give also 
a Christian Endeavor pin to every Junior graduate 



160 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

when he enters the society, with the suggestion that 
he wear it always and remember what it means. 
Sometimes the pastor might speak the words of wel- 
come, and sometimes the president of the society, 
or the chairman of the lookout committee. The 
method matters not : the chief thing is the welcome. 
Make that unmistakable. 

Work for the Graduates. — When these Juniors 
have once entered the older society, set them to work 
at once. The very best plan that I have seen tried or 
heard recommended is this : Have in the society a 
Whatsoever and a Lend-a-Hand committee ; appoint 
some of your wisest and most winning workers ^ as 
chairmen of these committees, having a young man 
for chairman of the lend-a-hand committee, and a 
young lady for chairman of the whatsoever committee. 
As soon as the Juniors have been received into 
the society, place the boys on the lend-a-hand and 
the girls on the whatsoever committee. Let the 
leaders of these committees hold frequent committee 
meetings, and try in every way to help these boys 
and girls to be faithful to the promises they have made. 

Help them to think of something to say in the 
prayer-meeting. Use your inventive faculty to think 
of work for them to do. Both these committees 
should find their own work, doing little things that 
ought to be done and that no one else is doing, and 
being ready always to help any other committee that 
needs their services. Some such committees have 
mended the church carpets, and glued on the backs 
of the Bibles and hymn-books, and rubbed out pencil 
marks, and covered the books for the Sunday-school 



GRADUATION. 161 

library, and looked up stray books and stray scholars 
for the Sunday-school; and many other such like 
things they do. 

If the chairman of each of these committees can, 
for the first meeting at least, invite their committee to 
tea, and have a social evening with them, it will 
greatly help to mutual friendship, and make the rest 
of the work easier. The leaders of these committees 
should feel it their privilege to be a real help to these 
boys and girls in every possible way. The whatso- 
ever and lend-a-hand committees may be made a real 
means of grace to their members, and may start these 
boys and girls in the path of efficient Christian 
service. 

Questions for Review. 

{a) At what age should Juniors graduate? 

( /^ ) How shall they be prepared for graduation ? 

( <: ) How should it be made sure that they do not drop 

out between the two societies ? 
(^) Should they graduate singly or in groups? 
( ^ ) When is a good time for graduation-day ? 
(/) How should the Juniors be welcomed into the 

older society? 
{g) How can they be cared for there and introduced to 

the work ? 



CHAPTER XXII. 

RELATION TO THE OLDER SOCIETY. 

The Duty of the Christian Endeavor Society to 
the Juniors. — The relation between the Young 
People's Christian Endeavor society and the Junior 
society should be a very close one. The members of 
the older society should be kept informed concerning 
the work of the children, by monthly reports from 
either the superintendent or one of her helpers, and 
should be ready at any time to extend a helping hand to 
the children. Sometimes, perhaps as often as once a 
year, the older society might give a sociable es- 
pecially for the Juniors, when the members should 
exert themselves to make a very pleasant time for the 
Juniors, serving light refreshments if possible, and 
planning some bright and entertaining and helpful 
exercises to interest the children. 

Sometimes the older executive committee might in- 
vite the Junior officers to meet with them in their 
deliberations, and thus give the Juniors a helpful 
lesson in transacting the business of the society. One 
such meeting ought to help the Juniors to do very 
much better work in planning the work of their own 
society. 

Sometimes, too, there should be a union prayer- 
meeting led by the presidents of the two societies, 
which should be very carefully planned that it may be 

162 



RELATION TO THE OLDER SOCIETY. 163 

made as helpful as possible. Occasionally the presi- 
dent or some of the other members of the older 
society should be ready to go and speak a few words 
in the Junior meeting. As often as possible some 
young man from the older society might speak at the 
Junior temperance meetings, that the boys may hear 
a talk on temperance from a young man's standpoint. 

The Junior Committee. — There should also be in 
every older society a Junior committee, who should 
stand ready to help the Junior superintendent in 
every possible way, wherever she needs their help. 
All these things, and many others, as opportunity 
opens, the Juniors have a right to expect from their 
older brothers and sisters. 

What the Juniors Can Do for the Christian En- 
deavor Society. — And now what may the older En- 
deavorers expect from the Juniors ? Very much the 
same help that the older brothers and sisters in a 
family expect from the younger ones. A good many 
little favors and kindnesses the younger ones can do 
for their elders, and they ought to be glad to do them. 

Sometimes the flower committee of the older so- 
ciety will be very glad of help that the Juniors can 
give in collecting flowers for decorations for special 
occasions. Sometimes the music committee would 
like a little help from the Junior choir for some special 
meeting. Sometimes the Junior sunshines can help 
the older whatsoevers in their work. Sometimes the 
Junior minutemen can help by running errands, and 
in many little ways like these the boys and girls can 
show themselves to be very useful members of the 
church family. If in such ways as these the two so- 



164 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

cieties show themselves mutually helpful, their relation- 
ship will always be a very close one, and they will 
always rejoice to be workers together for Christ and 
his church. 

Responsibility of Christian Endeavorers for the 
Juniors. — In some churches it has happened that the 
older society has gone on its way, knowing little or 
nothing about the Junior work, and apparently caring 
less. This is probably due partly to thoughtlessness 
on their part, and partly to the fact that they have not 
been kept in touch with the Junior society by frequent 
reports of their work. These reports ought regularly 
to be called for when the committees give their reports 
at the monthly business meeting, and this will help 
the older young people to see that they, too, have 
some responsibility for the Junior work. 

Sometimes the pastor might be asked to preach a 
sermon on the work of young people in the church, 
and their responsibility for the children. Sometimes 
let the Junior secretary read the monthly report at the 
business meeting of the older society. In this way, 
by keeping the older society always informed con- 
cerning the work of the Juniors, by inviting them 
occasionally to the Junior meetings, and by oc- 
casionally asking their help, the members of the 
Young People's Christian Endeavor society may be 
led to feel their own responsibility for sharing, to 
some extent at least, in the work for the children of 
the church. 

Union Meetings. — Whenever it is thought best to 
have a union meeting of the two societies, plan a 
careful programme for such a meeting, letting the two 



RELATION TO THE OLDER SOCIETY, 165 

presidents lead it, and taking pains to make sure that 
every active member of each society shall take part 
briefly in the meeting. In some societies it may seem 
advisable to hold such a meeting as often as twice a 
year, and sometimes one of these meetings might be 
appointed for the time when the graduate Juniors are 
to be received into the older society, making it a fare- 
well and a welcome at the same time. 

When a union sociable is held, every senior should 
take pains to speak to every Junior, and it may be 
made such a merry, friendly time that it will be a real 
help to the boys and girls who shall attend, as well as 
to the older young people. Suggestions for such an 
evening may be found in the publications devoted to 
the work of the social committee. 

Working Together. — So far we have talked of the 
separate work of the two societies, and of their rela- 
tion to each other and occasional fellowship ; but both 
societies have a work to do for the church, and some 
of this work they may do together. Together they 
may decorate the church for Christmas or Easter or 
any other special occasion. Together they may make 
their presence and their help felt in the Sunday- 
school, showing by their regular and faithful attend- 
ance, and by their conscientious study of the Bible, 
that this Sunday-school hour is a real privilege given 
to them hy the church. 

Sometimes the two societies can together take 
charge of one of the regular missionary meetings of 
the church if desired. Sometimes they can let their 
voices be heard in the church prayer-meetings if de- 
sired, the younger ones perhaps by repeating a Bible 



166 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

verse, and the older ones by expressing a thought of 
their own on the topic ; and all together they can 
help to make the singing what it should be in the 
church prayer-meeting. 

Together they can help to support their own 
church, by contributing something, even though it 
must be only a little, to the expenses of the church, 
and by faithful attendance on Sunday mornings, and, 
in the case of those who are old enough, on Sunday 
evenings. 

In every possible way the Christian Endeavorers 
and Junior Endeavorers should help each other to feel 
that the church is for them and they for the church, 
and that it is their duty and privilege to work to- 
gether, and to help in every way possible to make 
their own church a power in the community. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) What can the Juniors expect from the seniors? 
( b ) What can the seniors expect from the Juniors? 
( ^ ) How can the older Endeavorers be made to feel 

their responsibility for the Juniors ? 
(^) How may union meetings and sociables be made 

helpful ? 
(^) What can the two societies do together for the 

church ? 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

CHURCH-MEMBERSHIP FOR THE JUNIORS. 

Deciding for Christ. — If a Junior society is what it 
should be, it ought to be expected to lead the children 
into the Christian Hfe and into church-membership. 
It should be a part of the work of the Junior superin- 
tendent to prepare the children for this step, but this 
work should be very carefully done. So serious a step 
as that to church-membership should not be lightly 
taken. 

The first thing should be to bring the children to 
decide for Christ and to begin the Christian life, and 
for this purpose special evangelistic meetings should 
be held, though there ought to be something in every 
Junior Endeavor prayer-meeting that would make the 
children want to lead a Christian life, and would 
strengthen them in doing it. Still, it is not so easy to 
get at a child's heart, and find out why he is not a 
Christian, and show him how to be one, in a large 
meeting, with all kinds of children present. 

Decision Day, — Sometimes the children may be 
helped by having the Christian life carefully explained 
to them in a general meeting, and then by an earnest 
appeal to them to begin now to serve the Lord. Then 
after this meeting appoint a short after-meeting for all 
the boys and girls who want to be Christians, or who 
do not quite know whether they are Christians or not ; 



168 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

and in this smaller meeting, where only two or three, 
or perhaps half a dozen, will be found, talk more 
directly and plainly to them as individuals, asking them 
lovingly and simply just what it is that they do not un- 
derstand, and telling them just how they can begin the 
Christian Hfe. 

Some societies have *' Decision Day" on the first 
meeting in February, Christian Endeavor Day, — and 
try to bring the decision then. It seems a beautiful 
and appropriate celebration of Christian Endeavor 
Day to strive each year to win some Juniors to Christ. 
Others hold such meetings on New Year's Day, or at 
the beginning of the church year, or whenever there 
seems to be any special interest among the children. 

Special Evangelistic Meetings. — Such special meet- 
ings should be held as frequently as it seems wise, and 
the superintendent should study to understand and ex- 
plain very simply just what the Christian hfe means 
and how to begin it. Sometimes it may be wise to 
ask the pastor or some older church-member to come 
to one of these special meetings to talk with the chil- 
dren. Whatever methods may be used, the one object 
should be to help the boys and girls to become 
Christians, and the whole work of the society should 
be made helpful to their Christian lives. 

Preparation for Church-Membership. — When the 
superintendent has reason to believe that any of her 
Juniors are living truly Christian lives, and when they 
seem ready, so far as she can judge, for church-member- 
ship, the next step should be to talk with their parents 
before saying anything about church-membership 
directly to the children themselves. In a general way 



CHUBCH-MEMBERSHIP FOB THE JUNIORS. 169 

the thought should always be kept before the children 
that one who is really a Christian ought to be willing 
to make it known, and ought to expect sometime to 
become a member of the church ; but just when that 
time shall be must be decided in each case separately, 
and ought never to be decided without consultation 
with the parents of the child. 

Go and talk with the father or mother or both, and 
tell them plainly that their child seems to you to be a 
Christian, and ought in your judgment to consider the 
question of uniting with the church, but that it seemed 
right to talk first with the parents. 

If they themselves are Christian people, they will be 
glad to hear this, even if they do not think it wise 
just yet for their child to unite with the church. It is 
quite likely that they will feel a more watchful and 
sympathetic care of this young Christian, and will be- 
gin to consider the question of church-membership if 
they have not already done so. If they are not Chris- 
tians, it is possible that this talk about the welfare of 
their child may lead them to consider the question of 
their own lives ; and it may sometimes happen that a 
father and a mother may be led into the Kingdom by 
their own child. After consulting the parents, if they 
do not object, have an earnest talk with the children 
who seem ready for church-membership, and explain 
to them simply what church-membership means, and 
why it is the duty of a Christian ; and let them talk, 
and explain their own views on the subject, and ask 
any questions they wish. Havmg talked it all over 
with them, kneel down with the children, and ask all 
who are willing, to pray about it, and to ask God to 



J 



170 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

show them just what he wants them to do, and to make 
them wilHng to do his will, whatever it may be. 

Do not urge the children. If they do wish to 
unite with the church, it should be their own decision, 
and they should be made to understand clearly that 
they ought not to do it simply because they think 
their parents or their superintendents wish it, but only 
because they believe God wishes them to do it. If 
they do not feel sure of that, help them, if they wish, 
to know how they may understand God's will for them ; 
and, when they do enter the church, let it be by their 
own intelligent wish and choice. Make the way into 
the church easy for them, and open the door wide, but 
do not push them through it. Let them go in volun- 
tarily and earnestly and sincerely. 

At \A(^hat Age Children May Become Church-Mem- 
bers. — The question of how early a child may enter 
the church is one that is often discussed, but the wisest 
and most earnest Christians have come to believe that 
it is not a question of age. Some children of ten years 
may enter more fully prepared for the step than others 
of fourteen or fifteen. It is a question of heart prep- 
aration ; help the children to " prepare their hearts to 
seek the Lord," and, if their lives show that they love 
him, let that be the test. 

One of the most earnest and consistent and most 
active Christians in the church to which I belong 
united with that church when he was eight years old, 
and no one has ever doubted that he was at that age 
fitted to take his place in the church ; but that would 
not be the case w^th every child, of course. Let the 
superintendent decide, so far as her own responsibility 



CHURCH-MEMBERSHIP FOR THE JUNIORS, 171 

goes, for each child by himself; and, when she has 
talked with the parents and the children, and believes 
them to be ready, let her hand their names to the pas- 
tor, telling him her reasons for believing them ready 
for church-membership. If he thinks best, the super- 
intendent might herself go with the children to talk 
with their pastor, unless the parents prefer to take 
them. 

Preparing the Children Individually. — We have 
spoken of what the superintendent may do for the 
children in presenting this matter to them ; but it 
should not be forgotten that the final decision should 
rest with the child himself, and his parents, and his 
pastor. Do not attempt to decide this question for 
any child, and be careful not to urge them. This 
question of church-membership should usually be con- 
sidered outside of the regular meetings of the society. 
Talk with the children individually as they seem ready 
for it, but do not ask any of them to decide such a 
question in the general meeting. Children have usu- 
ally too much of a " follow-my-leader " sort of spirit, 
and there is danger that one child may wish to take 
this step because another is going to take it ; and, if 
the question were asked in the general meeting how 
many thought they were ready for church-member- 
ship, it is quite likely that several children would raise 
their hands who had really given very little thought 
to the matter. Let it be an individual matter, then, 
presented to the children one at a time, as they seem 
ready for it. 

The Children and the Church Covenant. — If in 
the judgment of the child and his parents he is ready 



172 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

to present himself to the church committee, then there 
should be some special preparation for church-mem- 
bership besides what his parents may give him. In 
some churches the pastor will wisely think that this 
work is his to do, and he will form a church-prepara- 
tion class for a few of the boys and girls. 

If for any reason he does not do this, then the 
Junior superintendent should do it. Have some little 
special meetings with these children for three or four 
weeks before the Sunday on which they are to unite 
with the church, and go over the church covenant 
with them, and perhaps the simplest form of the creed. 
Help them to understand that when a person becomes 
a member of a church he makes some definite prom- 
ises to that church and to God. Go over the cove- 
nant with them very carefully, that they may under- 
stand just what these promises are. Let them rewrite 
the creed in their own language, simply writing out in 
their own words just what they understand that they 
are to covenant and promise to God and his church. 
Hold at least three or four of these little special 
church preparation meetings, till all that is possible 
has been done to prepare them to enter the church 
with a full understanding of the obligations they are 
taking upon themselves. 

The Children in the Church.— When the children 
have once become church-members, it too often hap- 
pens that the church seems to take it for granted that 
everything needful has been done, and now the chil- 
dren are all right, whereas now is just the time when 
they need careful guarding and shepherding. Unless 
some one else is doing this work, the Junior superin- 



CHUBCff'3IE3IBEESHIP FOR THE JUNIORS. 173 

tendent should feel a care to help the children to faith- 
fulness to their vows, not only through her words in 
the usual Christian Endeavor prayer-meetings, but in 
a little special preparatory service held before each 
communion service for those Juniors who are church- 
members. These special meetings might well be 
held on the week of the usual preparatory lecture in 
the church, and it should be made to mean to the 
children what this service means to the older members 
of the church, a preparation for coming to the Lord's 
table. 

At such little preparatory meetings read with the 
children the story of the Lord's Supper ; let them ex- 
plain to you what they think it means, and why it is 
celebrated so often in the churches. Call it sometimes 
" The Memory Supper,'' and ask them what it is to 
help them remember. Ask them whether they pray 
when they bow their heads after taking the bread and 
the wine, and help them to know how to pray and 
commune with Christ at that time. Try to make this 
communion service mean to them what it does to the 
older members of the church. Try through these 
little meetings and in every possible way to guard and 
guide these children, who have come into the church 
and confessed Christ before men. 

Special Meetings, Why? — It may seem that in 
these chapters I am recommending very frequent spe- 
cial meetings of various kinds; but such little quiet 
meetings with a very few children may be made so 
exceedingly helpful that it seems worth while that the 
superintendent should be willing to give time for this 
work. It is perhaps the most important work that 



174 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

can be done in connection with the Junior society. 
These Httle special meetings need not usually be very 
long, however ; generally ten or fifteen minutes would 
be better than a longer time. 

Which Shall Come First, Church-Membership or 
Admission to the Society ?— I have said nothing here 
to indicate whether the boys and girls should be 
church-members before they become active members of 
the society. Some societies think very decidedly that 
church-membership should come first. Others think 
that church-membership is a more solemn and impor- 
tant step, and that the taking of the active member's 
pledge in the Junior society may be for many children 
the first step in the beginning of their Christian life, and 
that this is the place to prepare for church-member- 
ship. Some parents, too, who hope and believe that 
their children are Christians, are yet unwilling that 
they should become church-members while so young, 
but would allow them to become active members of the 
Junior society, and in this way show to those who 
know them that they want to give themselves to 
Christ. Let your church and your pastor decide this 
question for you, but in some way try to lead the 
children into the Christian hfe, and do what can be done 
to fit them for church-membership. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) How would you help the children to decide for 

Christ ? 
(b ) How early may a child unite with the church ? 
(^) Who shall decide when he is ready? 
(^) What preparation for church-membership can the 

society give to the children ? 



CHURCH'MEMBEBSHIP FOB THE JUNIORS. 175 

( <? ) What can the society do for the children after they 

are in the church ? 
(/) How would you help the children to understand 

the meaning of the Lord's Supper? 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE JUNIORS IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND DAY-SCHOOL. 

Working Together for the Children. — In many- 
ways it is possible for the Sunday-schools and day- 
schools and the Junior Endeavor society to help one 
another. Through all three of these agencies we are 
trying to help our boys and girls to the best possible 
development of all their powers, and it is a matter of 
course that these agencies will all accomplish more if 
they work together, supplementing and aiding one 
another. 

Too often at present these different agencies for the 
education and training of the young work independ- 
ently, and, while perhaps not hindering one another, 
yet fail of some results that they might accomplish if 
there could be occasional consultations by the day- 
school teacher and the Sunday-school teacher and the 
Junior superintendent, each of whom views the child 
from a different angle, and sees a different side of his 
character. 

The Junior Endeavor Society Helping the Sun- 
day-School. — There are some ways in which the Jun- 
ior Endeavor society ought to help the work of the 
Sunday-school. For instance, there might be in the 
Junior society a Sunday-school committee, whose 

176 



JUNIORS IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND DAY-SCHOOL. 177 

work should be to do everything possible to help the 
Sunday-school. Such a committee might be always 
on the lookout for new scholars whom they might in- 
vite to the Sunday-school. Through the other mem- 
bers of the society they might find out when new boys 
and girls move into their town or into their streets, and 
might invite these to go with them to Sunday-school, 
perhaps calling for them the first two or three Sundays. 
Through their day-school, too, they ought to be able 
to find boys and girls who do not attend any Sunday- 
school, but would perhaps do so if invited. 

Looking up Absent Members of the Sunday-School. 
— This committee might also look up absent and miss- 
ing members of the Sunday-school. Through the 
Sunday-school superintendent it might easily come to 
be understood that any teacher should hand to some 
member of this committee the name of any boy or 
girl in his class who is absent, and this Junior would 
see that some member of his committee should in the 
course of the week look up the missing scholar and 
find the reason of his absence, and let him know that 
his teacher missed him, and hoped for his return on 
the next Sabbath. If any of these absent members 
are ill, the Sunday-school committee might notify the 
sunshine committee, and in some way they might ex- 
press their sympathy by sending flowers or a card or 
some little deHcacy. 

Looking up Missing Sunday-School Books. — This 
committee might also be asked to look up Sunday- 
school books that have been kept out more than the 
allotted time. The librarian could give to this com- 
mittee the names and addresses of those to whom 



178 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

such books are charged and ask that they call for 
them. 

Setting a Good Example in Sunday-School. — This 
committee should also be expected to do all it can to 
help to keep order in the Sunday-school. They can 
begin by setting a very good example themselves, and 
so far as their influence reaches they can exert it with 
other boys and girls. Perhaps it might be well that 
they should sometimes report in their Junior prayer- 
meeting certain classes who appear to them to have 
been setting good examples of quietness and reverent 
attention to their lessons. 

If the Juniors know that it is a part of the regular 
work of their society to help keep good order in the 
Sunday-school, it will have some influence with many 
of them. These are a few things that a Junior Sun- 
day-school committee might do to help the Sunday- 
school, and a wise and efficient superintendent will 
doubtless think of many more. 

If any Junior society is so small that it can have 
only a few committees, some of this work might be 
done by the prayer-meeting or the lookout committee, 
or it might be considered the work of the whole so- 
ciety ; but in some way every Junior society ought to 
be made to feel that their Christian endeavor extends 
as far as the Sunday-school. 

The Sunday-School Helping the Junior Society. 
— If the Junior Endeavor society can help the Sunday- 
school, it is equally true that the Sunday-school can 
help the Junior society. The notice of the Junior 
prayer-meeting and the topic which is to be considered 
might be given every Sunday in the Sunday-school, 



JUNIORS IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND DAY-SCHOOL, 179 

and sometimes a word from the superintendent will 
quicken the interest of the Sunday-school scholars 
who never go to the Junior meetings, so that they 
will want to attend at least once or twice ; and, when 
they are once there, the Junior superintendent should 
make it her business so to interest and help them that 
they will want to come again. 

If every Sunday-school teacher who has boys and 
girls in her class would take the first two or three 
minutes of lesson-time to talk over the Junior topic 
with her boys and girls, she would help them to know 
how to take part in Junior meeting, and to understand 
the topic. There are some boys and girls in our Jun- 
ior societies who get very little help at home, and a 
few words from their Sunday-school teacher would be 
very helpful to them. 

The Sunday-school teacher, too, can occasionally 
ask questions about the Junior meeting, and express 
her interest in it, and perhaps occasionally attend the 
Junior meeting, being prepared to say a few words 
there if desired, or at least to express to the Junior 
superintendent her willingness to help her in the work 
as she has opportunity. A Sunday-school teacher 
who has seen her scholars in their Junior Endeavor 
meeting will know them a little better, and be better 
able to help them through her own work in the Sun- 
day-school. 

The Junior Superintendent and the Day-School. — 
The same methods that have been suggested for com- 
bined work through the Junior society and the Sun- 
day-school may be used also, with some variations, in 
the day-schools. A Junior superintendent who wants 



180 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

to do the best possible work for her boys and girls 
ought to go occasionally to the day-schools, that she 
may know her Juniors there, and may see how they 
are living the truths of which they speak and pray in 
the Junior meetings. 

She might give to each teacher a list of the active 
members of the Junior Endeavor society who are in 
her class, and ask her to observe their efforts to be 
faithful to the pledge they have taken, and to suggest 
ways in which their superintendent may help them to 
be more faithful. Enlist the sympathy of the day- 
school teacher in your work, and you have another 
ally. 

Let the Juniors know that you are interested in the 
work they are doing at day-school, and that being a 
Christian means being a Christian in school. Take an 
interest in their marks when they receive their quarterly 
reports, especially their marks in deportment, and 
commend those who have been faithful, bearing in 
mind that some of those who have lower marks may 
perhaps have worked harder than some of those who 
have higher marks. It is diligence and faithfulness 
that should be commended. 

Geography in Junior Endeavor Societies. — The 
Junior society may also be of some help to the chil- 
dren in their studies. At least in geography their 
Junior work ought to count towards their school-work, 
and perhaps also a little in a literary way ; for the 
missionary meetings will incidentally give them many 
lessons in geography, and in their sociables there 
ought to be some readings and recitations that will 
help to give them a taste for good literature. Some^ 



JUNIOBS IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND DAY-SCHOOL 181 

times invite a day-school teacher to come to a mission- 
ary-meeting or a sociable or to one of the regular 
prayer-meetings of the society, that she may see what 
you are trying to do for her boys and girls, and how 
you are also trying to help her. 

The School-Teacher and Junior Endeavor. — The 
day-school teacher may also do something if she will 
to help the work of the Junior society, by talking 
about it with her scholars, by visiting it occasionally 
and thus showing her sympathy with their Christian 
work, and occasionally by suggesting to the Junior 
superintendent topics that might well be spoken of in 
the meetings. If the Junior society meets on a week- , 
day, the teacher might plan not to keep any of the 
Juniors after school on the evening of their meet- 
ing, teUing them, if need be, that she has so planned 
it because she believes that their Junior meeting 
will help them to do better work in school next 
time. 

Perhaps once or twice a year there might be some 
teacher who would be wiUing to go to the Junior 
meeting prepared to give to the boys and girls a fif- 
teen-minute talk on their topic. It will surely help 
her own influence in the school if she meets the chil- 
dren from this common ground of service to Christ, 
and it will be good for the children occasionally to 
hear in their meeting from some one whose regular 
work with them is so different. 

Try some of these methods, or some variation of 
them, in your society, and see whether you do not find 
them helpful. 



182 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) How can the Juniors help the Sunday-school ? 

(^) How can the Sunday-school help the Junior so- 
ciety ? 

( r ) How can the Junior society help the day-schools ? 

( ^) Can the teachers be expected to do anything for the 
society ? 



CHAPTER XXV. 

THE JUNIOR SOCIETY AND THE PARENTS. 

The Parents and the Children. — We have already 
spoken of the way in which the children may be 
helped in their lives by various different agencies, but 
there is no one from whom the Junior superintendent 
ought so confidently to expect help as from the par- 
ents of the children ; and, though sometimes com- 
plaints have been made that very little help comes 
from this source, yet I believe it might come, and 
would come, from properly directed efforts to obtain it. 

I believe that all fathers and mothers, even those 
who do not seem to make any great efforts in that di- 
rection themselves, desire their children to be good. 
They want their children to rise higher in every way 
than they are themselves ; and, if they understand ex- 
actly what the Junior superintendent is trying to do 
for their children, they are glad. 

The Superintendent and the Parents. — But some- 
times Christian parents seem to show very little inter- 
est in the work of the society, it is said. If this is the 
case, is it not possible that the Junior superintendent 
is also partly to blame for it ? Keep yourself in touch 
with the parents ; call on them occasionally ; and let 
them know just what you are doing, and why, and 
how you want their help. I believe there are parents 
who would gladly lend their assistance if they knew 

183 



184 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

just what to do. Tell them definitely what you would 
like to have them do. 

If the parents would ask their children every week 
about their Junior meeting, and what they talked and 
prayed about, and how they mean to profit by it, and 
what their superintendent said, it would show their 
interest ; and, though the children might not at first 
carry home any very clear and definite reports of the 
work of their society, they would in time learn to do 
it. If the parents would also talk over the topic with 
the children before the meeting, and help them to 
prepare to take part in it, they would be more ready 
to enter into the children's Christian lives, and could 
better help them, besides perhaps gaining some help 
for their own lives. For there is no way to bring a 
thought so plainly home to one's own self as to try to 
make it clear to a child. 

The Mothers at the Meetings. — While it is true 
that not all mothers are gifted as speakers, there must 
be some mothers of Juniors who could occasionally 
go to the Junior meeting, and give a very helpful talk 
to the boys and girls on their topic. Even those 
mothers who feel that they cannot help in this w^ay 
can show their interest and sympathy by going at 
least once a year to a Junior meeting to listen to the 
words spoken and the prayers offered there. 

Mothers' Meetings. — There should also be in every 
church some kind of a mothers' association, whose ob- 
ject should be to pray for the conversion of the chil- 
dren, and to help them in their Christian Hves, and 
also to influence the lives of other mothers who are 
not Christians. In some churches there are already 



THE JUNIOR SOCIETY AND THE PARENTS. 185 

formed Mothers' Endeavor societies, working along 
Christian Endeavor hnes, and co-operating so far as 
possible with the superintendent of the Junior society 
in her work. 

What the Mothers* Meeting May do for the 
Juniors. — Such societies have a simple form of the 
Christian Endeavor pledge, binding their members to 
lead a Christian life and to take some part in their own 
prayer-meetings, and to do whatever they can to assist 
the Junior society. Other churches have Maternal 
Associations of various kinds, all having the same 
general object. Such a society may do much to help 
in the Junior work by enlisting all the mothers of 
Juniors and by consulting with the superintendent as 
to the ways in which they may manifest their sympa- 
thy and their desire to help. In this mothers' society 
the Junior secretary might occasionally read a report 
of the work of the Junior society. The mothers' 
meeting might also be furnished with a copy of the 
Junior topics, that they may know what the Juniors 
are praying for ; and occasionally both societies might 
take the same topic, when it seems a suitable one, 
looking at it in one meeting from the standpoint of 
the mothers and in the other from that of the children. 

Perhaps once a year the mothers might give the 
children a sociable, at which the mothers should also 
be present, the children providing some kind of liter- 
ary or musical entertainment, and the mothers pro- 
viding refreshments, having also a speaker who shall 
represent the mothers, though not necessarily chosen 
from 'their own number. Perhaps, also, it might be 
possible once a year to have a union meeting, in 



186 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

which each society should hold a half-hour meeting 
by itself, and then they should have a half-hour to- 
gether. Some mothers' societies have also a custom 
of giving occasionally some little devotional book to 
each Junior, such as Miss HavergaFs " Little Pillows/* 
or ** Morning Bells," or a '' Daily Food." Such gifts 
are good for the children to receive, and they help 
also to show the interest and sympathy of all the 
mothers for all the children. 

Parents' Endeavor Societies. — Some few churches 
have organized Parents' Endeavor societies, in which 
both the fathers and mothers pledge themselves 
to work for their children's conversion and growth in 
the Christian life. Perhaps it might be possible occa- 
sionally to find a father of a Junior who would give 
some thought to the Junior Endeavor society, and 
would help it in any way he can. A talk to the boys 
from the standpoint of the father would sometimes be 
the most helpful influence that could be brought to 
bear upon them. 

Critical Mothers. — It is sometimes complained that 
the parents are unsympathetic and critical, and hinder 
rather than help the work of the Junior society. If 
this is ever the case, it is more likely to be through 
some misunderstanding of the work done than for any 
other reason. Sometimes, too, there may be real 
ground for criticism, which perhaps the Junior super- 
intendent herself recognizes, though she finds herself 
unable to remedy the defects in her work, which she 
sees more plainly than any one else. 

The Superintendent and the Mothers. — Why not 
go, then, to the parents whom you think to be un- 



THE JUNIOR SOCIETY AND THE PARENTS. 187 

sympathetic, and tell them something of your diffi- 
culties, and ask for their sympathy and help? Do 
not, if you can avoid it, go to any parent to complain 
of her children, but rather tell her what you are trying 
to do for all the children, and how much you feel your 
own weakness, and how earnestly you desire to be a 
real help to the children. Invite her to come in 
once in a while to see what you are trying to do, and 
to make suggestions for improvement in your work. 

Be ready to receive criticisms and suggestions, and 
make them a help ; for they probably point out some 
defects in the work itself. It may not be easy to take 
them, but the Father can give you grace to receive 
them graciously, and to profit by them. Perhaps the 
meetings have not been as orderly and reverent as 
they should be. Let some of the parents tell you how 
they think you could make them more so. 

In some way keep in touch with the mothers and 
make them your friends, and they will be glad to help 
and not hinder your work for their children. Once in 
a while, too, have a mothers' meeting with your Jun- 
iors, sending a special invitation by each member of 
the society to his own mother to come and make the 
meeting one which will be a help to the mothers as 
well as to the children. There are some topics given 
every year that would be very good for such a meeting. 

Consulting Together. — In some churches it would 
certainly be possible to plan as often as once a year 
for a social gathering of the mothers and fathers and 
day-school and Sunday-school teachers with the Jun- 
ior superintendents. Perhaps the pastor would help 
plan such a gathering, and would himself be one of 



188 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

the speakers. Let the Junior superintendent at this 
gathering give a report of her work, and tell some of 
the encouraging and some of the discouraging things 
she has met with ; and she might also take this oppor- 
tunity to ask for any special help that she needs from 
parents or teachers or pastor. 

Ask one of the fathers to speak a few words abqut 
the children, and how they need help ; and perhaps 
have also a few words from at least one teacher from 
the day-school, and one from the Sunday-school, and 
let the pastor have the closing remarks. Then, with 
light refreshments and an opportunity for social inter- 
course, all these people who are working in their sep- 
arate ways for the same children may have opportunity 
for an interchange of opinions and for suggestions and 
kindly criticisms, which ought to result in better work 
all around for our boys and girls, who are growing up 
in the church and learning to find their place and their 
work there. 

Questions for Review. 

(a) How can the parents help the Junior society? 
( ^ ) What can a mothers* society do for the Juniors ? 
{c) What can be done if parents are unsympathetic or 

critical ? 
(^) What are the possibilities from consultation with 

parents ? 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

JUNIOR UNIONS. 

Object of a Junior Union. — The object of a Junior 
union is in the main the same as that of a Junior so- 
ciety, to develop and strengthen the Christian lives of 
those who join it, and to help them in their work for 
the boys and girls. A Junior union ought also to 
work for the increasing of the number of societies in 
its own district and the strengthening of the work of 
those already existing. 

There ought to be a Junior union in every district 
where there are several Junior societies within reach 
of each other. A model constitution for a Junior 
union will be found in the appendix to this book. 

Membership in the Union. — Aside from the annual 
rally it is not expected that the children will regularly 
attend the meetings of the union, which are largely 
for the superintendent, assistant superintendent, and 
other older Junior workers. Every society in the 
district should be represented in the meetings of the 
union by its Junior superintendent and assistant super- 
intendent, and, if possible, by at least one member of 
the Junior committee. It is through the interchange 
of methods and experiences that help will come to the 
superintendents. A method that has been tried in one 
society very successfully may not be exactly suited for 
another ; but sometimes it will be found to be just the 

189 



190 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

thing, and, if not, often some variation of it will 
make it right. But many of the problems of Junior 
Endeavor are the same in all societies, and one who 
has successfully met and conquered them can by tell- 
ing her experience help others. Sometimes, too, a 
worker of long and tried experience may be found who 
will give at a meeting of the Junior union such a help- 
ful talk as will be of great value to younger and more 
inexperienced workers. 

It ought to be the case that in every Christian En- 
deavor society a future Junior superintendent is being 
trained for future work, and for this reason the assist- 
ant superintendent and at least one or two of the 
Junior committee ought to attend the meetings of the 
Junior union, that they may hear the work discussed, 
and may be preparing for the time when it may rest 
upon their shoulders. 

Union Meetings. — The meetings of a Junior union 
should be held often enough to keep up interest in the 
work, and to discuss sufficiently often those questions 
that are always coming up in children's work. Some 
unions hold their meetings every month, and others 
once in two months. Some think quarterly meetings 
better still. It depends somewhat upon the number 
of other meetings of various kinds that require the at- 
tendance of many of the same workers. Perhaps 
once a quarter or once in two months is often enough 
as a rule ; but in this case the meetings should be 
carefully planned, perhaps for two or three years in 
advance, that there may be sufficient variety in the 
topics, and that no important topic may be wholly 
neglected. 



JUNIOR UNIONS. 191 

The duties of the officers of a Junior union and the 
work of the union itself have been so wisely stated in 
*' The Junior Manual " by Professor Wells that I can- 
not do better than to quote from him. 

President of the Union. — '* The work of the president 
of the Junior union is limited only by her time and 
strength. She should visit as many of the societies 
in the union as possible, holding private talks with 
every superintendent, and inspiring the Juniors by 
brief and bright addresses. She will, of course, be 
the ruling spirit in the union lookout committee, guid- 
ing their work in the organization of new societies, 
and whenever possible be present to control the or- 
ganization. She will have it among her duties to urge 
upon the older Endeavorers of the city the claims of 
Junior work, advising them to form Junior committees 
for the aid of the Junior superintendents. 

" The planning of the rallies of the union will largely 
fall to her share, as well as the management of the 
quarterly superintendents' meetings. She must keep 
posted upon all recent developments of Junior 
methods, and must not fail to keep up an acquaintance 
with the Junior workers of her city or district." 

" The Secretary. — The position of secretary of the 
Junior union is one of great importance. It is her 
task to send out notifications of the rallies and super- 
intendents' meetings, informing the different superin- 
tendents what part, if any, they and their Juniors have 
in the programme, what is the theme for discussion in 
the superintendents' meeting, and what will be ex- 
pected by way of participation from all who come. 
It will be her duty to correspond with whatever 



192 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

speakers from outside the society are obtained for the 
Junior rally. 

" Especially it will be her task to collect the statistics 
of the union. Her report should show the names and 
membership, active and preparatory, of all societies in 
the union, the date of their organization, the names 
and addresses of their superintendents and assistant 
superintendents and of the pastors of the churches 
with which they are connected. Additional facts 
which should be given are the number that have 
graduated from the society during the year, the num- 
ber that have joined the church, the amount of money 
given to missions, the number of new members re- 
ceived during the year, and any other statistics that 
will be of general interest. Large space in the report 
should be given to accounts of any especially helpful 
plans that have been tried and proved throughout 
the union, as well as to suggestions for fresh en- 
deavors.'' 

" The Union Treasury. — The work of a Junior union 
cannot be carried on without money. The corre- 
spondence, the printing, the circular letters, the car- 
fare of the speakers, the gifts of literature to those 
who are organizing new societies, all such things take 
money. The entire sum necessary, however, to do a 
large amount of good in the course of a year's Junior 
work is very slight, and the Junior superintendents and 
societies will gladly contribute it. Do not fail to hold 
to the Christian Endeavor principle of free-will con- 
tributions. You may go so far as to announce to the 
societies what amount of money is required to conduct 
the affairs of the union in good shape, but let each 



JUNIOR UNIONS. 193 

society determine for itself, considering its numbers 
and resources, what is its own share of this sum." 

" Topics for Superintendents' Meetings. — In most 
superintendents' meetings the problem will be what 
topics of burning interest to omit rather than what to 
talk about. However, the following list of themes for 
discussion may prove useful and suggestive : 

The advantages of intermediate societies. 

Graduation : at what age? with what ceremonies? 

Your pet plan of Bible-study. 

How do you arouse interest in temperance ? 

How do you make sure the Juniors read the daily 
readings ? 

What is your way of teaching missions ? 

What committees are essential ? 

How to win and hold the boys. 

How to get all to sing. 

Teaching Juniors to pray. 

Fresh modes of carrying on the consecration meeting. 

How to keep the society treasury full. 

The preservation of order in the meetings. 

Interesting the parents in the society. 

The good of Mothers' Societies of Christian En- 
deavor. 

How to teach the Juniors to give. 

How to influence the home Hfe of the Juniors. 

What do Juniors learn about their church ? 

Your brightest Junior social. 

How get the Juniors from preparatory to active 
membership. 

What does the parents' pledge mean in your 
church ? 



194 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

How can we improve our union work ? 

How do you present to your Juniors the claims of 
Christ? 

Object-lessons for Juniors. 

How do you get the older Endeavorers interested in 
your Juniors ? 

What does your society do for the Sunday-school ? 

How do you receive new members ? 

How do you carry on your business meetings ? 

Where may new societies be organized ? " 

" The Rallies. — At the Junior rallies the best portion 
of the church should be set apart for the Juniors 
themselves. They should wear badges, and carry at 
the heads of their lines their society banners. As 
they enter, they should sing their society marching- 
songs, and should sit together as societies." 

Throughout the meeting let as much as possible be 
given to the Juniors to do. A Junior choir might 
furnish music, and Junior ushers should escort the 
company to their seats. The address of welcome 
should be made by a Junior from the society of 
the church, and the response be given by one of the 
visiting Juniors. Each society might in response 
to the roll-call rise and sing their society hymn or re- 
peat their society motto. Throughout the longer 
and more formal exercises give the children some- 
thing to do on every possible occasion. It will serve 
to hold their attention if you call upon them now and 
then to raise their hands in voting, to wave their 
handkerchiefs, to wave flags, or to rise all together. 

A concert exercise by the Juniors, especially one 
that will require a little costuming, short papers by 



jumon UNIONS. 195 

Juniors, recitations, and Junior songs, either solos or 
choruses, — all of these will serve to make the young 
people feel that the meeting is their very own. 
Usually conclude the rally with a consecration service, 
the societies taking part as a whole in whatever way 
.they see fit. At the close repeat the pledge in concert. 

Many a Junior rally has been spoiled by a long 
harangue that does not interest or help the children. 
Choose, your speaker only for his known ability to 
talk so that the children will listen and be helped. 
Above all, see that the programme is not too long. 
Save some plans for the next time. 

The State Work. — In a larger way the State work 
is carried on in much the same manner. The State 
Junior superintendent should consider it her work to 
keep in touch with the Junior superintendents 
throughout the State. At the State convention she 
should establish a Junior headquarters, where the 
Junior superintendents may register and hold their 
conferences, as well as become acquainted with 
one another by social intercourse. In this room 
should also be arranged samples of all kinds of Junior 
literature and helps. 

'' The State superintendent's annual report should be 
given wide circulation. It should contain an abstract 
of statistics gathered, an account of the parts of the 
State yet needing to be roused to the importance 
of Junior work, an urging to missionary effort along 
this line, and suggestions regarding the most im- 
portant methods of work. Every society in the State 
should receive a printed copy of this report, which 
should be read at some society meeting." 



196 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

Questions for Review. 

( ^ ) What is the object of a Junior union ? 

\b) Who shall belong to it ? 

( ^ ) How often shall it meet ? 

(^) What can it do for the superintendents? For the 

Juniors ? 

( <? ) How can it multiply societies ? 

(/) How often shall it meet ? 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

WORLD-WIDE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR. 

Number of Endeavor Societies According to 

the latest statistics (January i, 1903) there are now in 
the world 45,854 Young People's Societies of Chris- 
tian Endeavor and 16,387 Junior societies, a propor- 
tion of about thirty-three per cent of Junior societies. 
These societies are found now in almost every coun- 
try in the world, and they are working in substantially 
the same way. To one who has had opportunity to 
visit societies in many lands it is wonderful to see what 
good work many of these foreign Juniors are doing. 

One of the best Junior prayer-meetings I ever 
attended was in a little Chinese society in the city of 
Foochow, China. There were present about thirty 
boys and girls from six or seven to fifteen years of 
age, as nearly as a foreigner could judge. The meet- 
ing was led by a girl who appeared to be about 
thirteen or fourteen, and the reverence and earnestness 
shown in that meeting were such as would rejoice the 
heart of a Junior superintendent in America. Almost 
every little Chinese boy and girl in that meeting re- 
peated a Bible verse, or answered a question, or ex- 
pressed some thought on the topic ; and then they 
bowed their heads, and most of the older ones offered 
prayer ; and to the listener, who of course could not 
understand the words, yet could understand the 

197 



198 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

spirit and the earnestness, there seemed to be a real 
spiritual power in that little meeting; and the mis- 
sionary who spoke the closing words was so earnest, 
and apparently so simple in her talk, that her little 
listeners seemed to be not only interested but helped 
by her words. 

Another very earnest little Junior society that 
I have lately seen was found in Budapest in Hun- 
gary, and their work would be an example to many 
of our societies in America. Many reminiscences of 
other little societies in Europe and Asia and Aus- 
tralia and in some of the islands of the seas have led 
to the belief that Junior Endeavor is well adapted to 
the children of every land, and that it is of great 
advantage to train up the boys and girls in this way 
before they enter into the work of the older society 
and take their places among the active workers in the 
church. 

According to the latest statistics the Junior societies 
are distributed in the different lands as follows : 

United States - - - - 13,872 
Canada ----- 642 

Foreign and Missionary Lands - 1,873 

Proportion of Christian Endeavor and Junior En- 
deavor. — It will be seen from the figures given at the 
beginning of this chapter that the proportion of Junior 
societies to Christian Endeavor societies is not what it 
should be. If Christian Endeavor is really a good 
thing for young people, if it does develop and 
strengthen their Christian character, and train them 
up for service in the church, why should we wait till 



WORLD-WIDE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR, 199 

the boys and girls are sixteen or seventeen or eighteen 
before we begin their training ? 

A Question of Relative Importance. — In every 
other branch of their education there seems to be no 
doubt that they should begin quite young. Musicians 
tell us that children should begin at six or seven, or 
even younger, to take lessons on the piano if they 
would become good players. Teachers tell us that 
children should begin their education in the kinder- 
garten while they are three or four years old. We 
have also our manual-training schools and lessons in 
sloyd for boys and girls in the grammar schools, and 
our girls must begin when they are quite small to learn 
to sew, and to know at least a httle something about 
housework. 

Why, then, should their religious training wait till 
they are seventeen or eighteen ? Is it that they will 
take to Christian work naturally, and do not need the 
training and experience ? Or is it that we consider 
their training in Christian service of less importance ? 
Or is it, perhaps, that we have not given the matter 
much thought, and have never put these questions to 
ourselves definitely ? 

Trained for Service. — Why is it that there are so 
few willing and earnest workers in our churches ? 
Why is it always so hard to find Sunday-school teach- 
ers and superintendents, and presidents for the various 
ladies' organizations, and members of committees for 
the various departments of church-work ? Why is it 
that there 'is such a spirit of " I don't want to play, if 
I've got to be it " in our churches ? Is it not largely 
because so many of our older members of the churches 



200 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

have not been taught and trained for Christian service, 
because they really do not know how to do it, or per- 
haps sometimes because, not having been trained to it, 
they have never acquired the willing spirit ? 

The Junior society is an effort to remedy this state 
of affairs, and to train up a future generation of work- 
ers who will be willing and able to take their share of 
the work of the church, because they have been taught 
how to work, and have, while they were young, culti- 
vated a spirit of willingness. If the Junior society 
can really accomplish this, — and it has already done it 
in some churches, — why should not there be in every 
church a Junior Endeavor society, which shall aim to 
do just this work ? Why is it that so many of our 
churches have a Young People's Christian Endeavor 
society, and no Junior society ? 

How to Find a Junior Superintendent. — Perhaps 
the most common reason for the lack of a Junior En- 
deavor society in any particular church is not so much 
indifference, or lack of interest in the subject, as lack 
of a Junior superintendent. There is no doubt that 
the work of a Junior superintendent requires great tact 
and judgment, and a winning way, and ability to talk 
with children, — gifts which are not bestowed upon 
every one. It may be that the only person in any 
particular church who has these gifts is already over- 
loaded, and cannot undertake anything more. Or it 
may be that there is really no one who seems to be 
fitted for the work, and those who most nearly reach 
the standard of perfection needed have neither the 
time nor strength for it. What, then, can be done ? 

" Find a Way or Make One.*' — Just look the situa- 



WORLD-WIDE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR. 201 

tion fairly in the. face. If this Junior work be some- 
thing that ought to be done, then it should be under- 
taken. Take for your motto, ^^ Either I will find a 
way, or make one." If there is no one else in the 
church who is ready to take the responsibility for 
starting a Junior society, then the older society should 
do it. If the young lady who seems to be exactly 
fitted for the work is too much overloaded already, 
ask her to consider seriously whether it would not be 
wiser to lay down the work that half a dozen other 
people ought to be doing, and to devote herself to the 
work of raising up twenty or thirty or more future 
workers who shall be ready to devote their time and 
strength to the work of the church when they are 
older. 

Two or Three Superintendents.— Try for three 
superintendents, if need be, and perhaps their differ- 
ent talents will supplement one another, and together 
they can do a grand work for the children. It may 
be, for instance, that there is some young woman who 
is gifted in speaking to the children and helping them 
to lead their meetings, but cannot give the time for 
the committee work and other outside work. Per- 
haps another can take that part of the work, and 
another can help with the music and make herself 
useful in many little ways ; and so, working and plan- 
ning together, they may find that three are better than 
one. It certainly is true that most churches as well as 
most individuals succeed in getting the things they 
want most, and any church that really wants to have a 
Junior society will probably succeed in having one. 
If a church does not really want it, then it ought to 



202 JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

be because that church is already .accomplishing the 
same result in a better way. 

Junior Fellowship. — Our Juniors ought also to be 
better acquainted with one another, and their elders 
should in some way make this possible for them. 
Help them in some way to keep in touch with other 
societies, that they may know how other boys and 
girls are working for Christ, and may stimulate and 
help one another. Through the missionary committee 
it ought to be possible to exchange an occasional 
letter with some Junior society in mission lands, and 
through The Christian Endeavor World, or through 
a correspondence committee, they might learn of 
some Christian Endeavor methods that other boys 
and girls have tried that they too would be glad to 
try. 

Some Junior societies might find it possible to pro- 
vide a Christmas good time for some missionary 
Junior Endeavor society, and in this way get a sense 
of their brotherhood. Let the prayer-meeting or in- 
formation committee sometimes report the work of 
some other Juniors, or read a letter from some foreign 
Junior. Keep the Juniors informed about the thou- 
sands of boys and girls all around the world who are 
trying to keep the same promises that they have 
made, and let it be true of our boys and girls that 
<* they helped every man his neighbor." 

Our Aim. — The object of all these Junior Endeavor 
societies is the same, — to strengthen their own Chris- 
tian lives, and then to reach out and help as many 
other lives as possible, to make the boys and girls 
useful and earnest workers for Christ and the church, 



WORLD-WIDE JUNIOR ENDEAVOR. 203 

and to raise up a generation of consecrated, willing 
Christian workers in the Master's vineyard. 

If this object is constantly kept in the mind of 
those who are working in the Junior societies, and if 
constant efforts through the Junior unions and other 
agencies are made, then we may reasonably expect 
that in the church of the future there will be a larger 
and a more earnest energetic effort made to extend 
the kingdom of Christ, and that some, at least, of the 
evils that exist in our churches to-day will be rem- 
edied. God grant that the day may come when 
there shall be found in every church many who shall 
heed the Master's words, ** Suffer the little children to 
come unto me," and who shall earnestly try to lead 
the children to him, and to train them for his service. 

Questions for Review. 

(^) In what countries are Junior Endeavor societies 
found ? 

( ^ ) What ought to be the proportion between Junior 
and senior societies ? 

(^ ) What is the most important part of a child's edu- 
cation ? 

{d) Why are there so few willing workers in our 
churches ? 

( ^ ) What is the most common reason for not having a 
Junior society in a church ? 

(/) How can a Junior superintendent be found? 

(^) How can Junior societies help one another? 

{h) What is our aim in all this work for the children ? 



APPENDIX A. 



MODEL CONSTITUTION OF THE JUNIOR SOCIETY 
OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 



Article I. — Name, 

This society shall be called the Junior Society of Chris- 
tian Endeavor of ^ - - 



Article ll,-^Object, 

Its object shall be to promote an earnest Christian life among 
the boys and girls who shall become members, and prepare 
them for the active service of Christ. 



Article III. — Membership, 

1. The members shall consist of three classes, Active, Pre- 
paratory, and Honorary. 

2. Active Members. Any boy or girl, who shall be approved 
by the Superintendent and Assistant, may become an Active 
Member of the society by signing the following pledge : — 

205 



206 APPENDIX A. 



ACTIVE MEMBER S COVENANT. 

Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I 
promise him that I will strive to do whatever he 
would hke to have me do ; that I will pray and 
read the Bible every day ; and that, just so far as I 
know how, I will try to lead a Christian hfe. I 
will be present at every meeting of the society 
when I can, and will take some part in every 
meeting. 

Name . 

I am willing that should sign this 

pledge, and will do all I can to help...- keep it. 

Parent' s name ...~ 

Residence—— 



3. Preparatory Members shall be those who wish to have the 
help of the society, but whose parents are not yet quite ready to 
let them sign the active member's covenant. They will be ex- 
pected to attend the meetings regularly, and it is hoped that this 
will be considered simply as a preparation for active member- 
ship. Any children, however young, who will be quiet during 
the meetings may, with the approval of the Superintendents, be- 
come Preparatory Members by signing the following pledge : — 



JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR PLEDGE 

FOR PREPARATORY MEMBERS. 

I will be present at every meeting of the society 
when I can, and will be quiet and reverent during 
the meeting. 

Signed ^„ 



APPENDIX A. 207 

4. Honorary Members. All mothers who are interested in the 
society, and who desire to help it, by their prayers, by their 
occasional presence, and by their hearty co-operation with the 
Superintendents, are invited to become Honorary Members. 

The Pastor and the President of the senior society shall also 
be Honorary Members. 

Article IV. — Officers. 

The officers of the society shall be a Superintendent, an As- 
sistant Superintendent, a President, a Vice-President, a Secre- 
tary, and a Treasurer. There shall be a Lookout, a Prayer- 
Meeting, and a Missionary Committee, and such other com- 
mittees as may be needed. 

Article V. — Duties of Officers. 

1. The Superintendent shall have full control of the society. 

2. The Assistant Superintendent shall aid the Superintend- 
ent in her work. The Assistant shall take care of all funds 
belonging to the society, the money being turned over to her by 
the Treasurer at the close of each meeting. 

3. The President shall conduct the business meetings, under 
the direction of the Superintendent. 

4. The Vice-President shall act in the absence of the Presi- 
dent. 

5. The Secretary shall keep a correct list of the members, 
take the minutes of the business meetings, and call the roll at 
each meeting. 

6. The Treasurer shall take up the collections, enter the 
amount in the account-book, and turn over the money to the 
Assistant Superintendent, and also enter all expenditures as 
directed by the Superintendent. 

7. The Superintendent and Assistant may be appointed by 
the Pastor, or by the Young People's Society (if one exists), 
with the approval of the Pastor. The other officers and com- 
mittees shall be nominated by the Superintendent and Assistant, 
and elected by the society. All officers shall be chosen once a 
year. 

Article VI. — Duties of Committees. 

1. The Lookout Committee shall secure the name of any who 
may wish to join the society and report the same to the Superin- 
tendents for action. They shall also obtain excuses from mem- 
bers absent from the roll-call, and affectionately look after and 
reclaim any who seem indifferent to their covenant. 

2. The Prayer- Meeting Co7nmittee shall, in connection with 



20B APPENDIX A. 

the Superintendent, select topics, assign leaders, and do what 
it can to secure faithfulness to the prayer-meeting pledge. 

3. The Missionary Committee shall, with the help of the 
Superintendents, arrange for a monthly missionary meeting, 
obtain subscribers to the missionary magazines, and try to inter- 
est the members in home and foreign work. 

Article VII. — Relationship, 

This society shall be closely related to the Mothers* Meeting, 
if there is one, and to the senior society of Christian Endeavor, 
and shall occasionally send a report of their work to these 
societies. It is expected that, when the members of the Junior 
society have reached their age-limit, they will enter the senior 
society as active members. 

Article VIII. — Meetings. 

1. A prayer-meeting shall be held once every week. A 
consecration meeting shall be held once a month, at which the 
pledge shall be read and the roll called ; and the responses of 
the members shall be considered a renewal of the covenant of 
the society. If any member is absent from three consecutive 
consecration meetings without excuse, his name shall be 
dropped from the list of members. 

2. Part of the hour of the weekly meeting shall, if deemed 
best, be used by the Pastor or Superintendent of the society for 
instruction, or for other exercises which they may approve. 

Article IX. — A7nendments» 

This Constitution may be amended at any regular business 
meeting of the society, by a two-thirds vote of the active mem- 
bers present. 



BY-LAV7S. 



1. This society shall hold a prayer-meeting on 

of each week. The last regular meeting of each month 
shall be a consecration meeting. The business meeting may 
be held in connection with the first regular meeting of each 
month. 

2. The officers and committees shall be chosen in — 

and continue a year, beginning on the first of the month fol- 
lowing their election. 



APPENDIX A. 209 

3. Special meetings of the society may be held at any time 
at the call of the Superintendent. 

4. A collection shall be taken at the consecration meeting, 
and at the other meetings if desired, the money thus obtained 
to be held available for benevolent objects and to meet the 
expenses of the society. 

5. All committees should meet at least once a month for con- 
sultation with the Superintendent in regard to their work. 

6. All expenditures shall be made under the direction of the 
Superintendent. 

7. Other committees may be added, whose duties shall be 
defined as follows : — 

The Music Committee shall distribute and collect the singing- 
books, and co-operate with the leader of the meeting in trying 
in every way to make the singing a success. 

The Temperance Committee shall arrange for an occasional 
temperance meeting, and circulate a temperance pledge 
among the members. 

The Sunday-school Committee shall secure the names of 
children who do not attend Sunday-school and invite them to 
become members of the Sunday-school. 

The Flower Committee shall provide flowers for the Sunday- 
school room and distribute fruit and flowers to the sick and 
needy. 

The Scrap-book Committee shall collect pictures and clippings 
and make scrap-books for sick and disabled members and for 
distribution in the hospitals. 

The Relief Committee shall collect clothing for the destitute 
children found in the Sunday-school and society, and bring it 
to the Superintendent for distribution. 

The Birthday Committee shall report all birthdays as they oc- 
cur among the members, so that special prayer may be offered 
for each member on his or her birthday. 

The Social Committee shall arrange for sociables as often as 
it seems best, and shall invite other children to the meetings. 



APPENDIX B. 



HOW TO CONDUCT A BUSINESS MEETING. 

By Mrs. Alice May Scudder. 

Perhaps some of our Junior leaders think that the business 
meetings of their society are of Httle account, since the primal 
object of Christian Endeavor is to develop spirituaHty. Such 
reasoning, however, is false and harmful, for every society 
should aim to develop Christians who shall be physically, intel- 
lectually, commercially, as well as spiritually, of value to the 
world in which they live. The old-fashioned flat bouquet, 
beautiful only on its face, has given way to one which is round 
and lovely on every side, and there should also be an effort to 
develop the children into all-round Christians, who shall attract 
by their symmetric beauty. 

Have a care, then, for the business meetings, as well as the 
prayer meetings. Let there be as perfect training in this de- 
partment as in any other. "Robert's Rules of Order" is a 
small, inexpensive book, and has invaluable rules for parHa- 
mentary usage. From it I frequently quote. 

The Juniors ought to conduct their own business meetings, 
and the leader should correct all errors, until the children un- 
derstand the modus operandi as well as grown people. The fol- 
lowing Httle catechism, if learned, will help them. 

Whose duty is it to call a meeting to order? Ans, That of 
the president of the society. 

In what words should he do so? Ans. He should come for- 
ward and say, "The meeting will please come to order." 

What is his next duty ? Ans. To ask whether the secretary 
is present ; if he is not, he will ask the meeting to appoint a 
temporary clerk. 

If the president is absent, who shall preside ? Ans, The 
vice-president. 

How should a motion be made ? Ans. Before a member 
can make a motion or address the society, it is necessary that 
he obtain the floor ; that is, he must rise and address the pre- 

210 



APPENDIX B. 211 

siding officer by his title, '*Mr. Chairman/* or "Mr. Presi- 
dent ; " after which, the president will announce the member's 
name. Before any subject is open to debate it is necessary, 
first, that a motion be made ; second, that it be seconded ; and, 
third, that it be stated by the presiding officer. Then it can 
become a matter of debate, until such time as it seems wise to 
vote upon it, when some one may say to end the debate, " I 
call for the question," or simply, '• Question." 

If any one speaks improperly in a debate, what shall be done ? 
Ans. Some one should say, " I call the person speaking to 
order." 

Can a person change a motion after making it 1 Ans. If a 
person wishes to change a motion, he can do so, provided no 
one objects. 

What is meant by the expression, " I move that the question 
be laid on the table " ? Ans. It means that the matter under 
discussion shall not be talked of for the present. When it is 
desired to consider it again, some one may say, "I move to 
take it from the table." 

What is a quorum ? Ans. A quorum is such a number as is 
competent to transact business. Unless there is a special rule 
the quorum is a majority of the members. 

What is the usual order followed in a business meeting ? Ans. 
The usual order is : — 

1. Prayer. 

2. Reading the record of the previous meeting. 

3. Elecdon of officers (if it is the appointed time). 

4. Reports of officers. 

5. Reports of committees. 

6. Unfinished business. 

7. New business. 

8. Prayer. Adjournment. 

These we shall consider in the order named. 

1. Prayer. This shall be short, being confined chiefly to a 
request for aid to carry on that specific meeting aright. 

2. Reading the Minutes of the Previous Meeting. After these 
have been read the president will say, " You have heard the 
minutes. If there are no corrections, they will stand ap- 
proved." 

3. Election of Officers. A nominating committee is usually 
appointed previous to the meeting, and the president will say, 
'• We will hear the report of our nominating committee," after 
which the chairman will rise and say, ''Our committee would 
offer the names of Mr. , for president ; Miss , for vice- 
president ; Miss , for recording secretary ; Mr. — — , for 

corresponding secretary ; Miss , for treasurer." 

Votes may be taken in any of the following ways, unless oth- 



212 APPENDIX B. 

erwise mentioned in the constitution ; by raising the hand, by 
rising, by ayes and nays, or by ballot. If the latter form is 
adopted, the president should appoint two tellers, whose duty 
it is to pass the slips, to collect them after they are filled out, 
and, after counting them, to declare the result to the president, 
who shall announce it in the following manner: "The whole 

number of votes cast is ; Mr. A received ; Mr. B, 

; Mr. C, ; Mr. B, receiving the majority, is elected." 

If there is only one nominee, and the feeling is unanimous, the 
secretary may cast one vote, which shall be for the whole mem- 
bership present. 

4. Reports of Officers, These reports should be carefully 
prepared, but not written in sermon style ; too many, with a 
desire to be very spiritual, take this time to preach, and it is not 
the proper thing to do. Don't infringe on your pastor's rights, 
especially in a business meeting. If reports are satisfactory, 
they will be accepted by vote, introduced by these words, 
** I move we accept the report." 

5 . Reports of Regular Coinmittees. The monthly reports of 
the regular committees should be presented in writing by the 
chairman or by some member of the committee designated by 
him. No formal vote of acceptance is necessary. At the close 
of the meeting the reports should be handed to the secretary 
to be placed on file. 

Reports of Special Committees. The report of a committee 
should be made by the chairman, who is always the first one 
named on the committee. It is his duty to call his committee 
together to talk over the matter intrusted to their care. Com- 
mittee work, when brought before the president or society 
for approval, should be introduced thus : ** The committee beg 
leave to submit the following report;" and in closing say, 
"All of which is respectfully submitted." When the report of 
a committee is read, they are discharged without any motion to 
that effect ; but if the matter should need further attention, the 
same committee can be continued by a motion "to refer the 
matter back to the same committee." 

6. Unfinished Business. Any business not fully completed at 
a previous session may come up at this point in the meeting. 

7. New Business. All items of business to be brought for- 
ward for the first time should be presented in a clear and con- 
cise manner. Much time, and often controversy, can be 
avoided if the person introducing new business has the subject 
well in his own mind. 

8. Prayer. Adjournment. A motion to adjourn should be 
made in these words : "I move we adjourn." If this is sec- 
onded, and the majority vote for it, the meeting is ended. A 
motion to adjourn takes precedence of all other motions. 



APPENDIX C. 



JUNIOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR UNIONS. 

By Kate H. Haus. 

In union there is strength. Genuine help and inspiration 
come from numbers when working harmoniously under one 
banner for one common cause. So, wherever there are two 
Junior Christian Endeavor societies existing in any city, town, 
or village, organize a Junior union for better work, and in or- 
der to spread the good work as much and as rapidly as possi- 
ble. To that end, which is the glory and honor of •* Christ and 
the church," the- following constitution and suggestions are 
offered: 

CONSTITUTION. 



Article L — Name, 

This organization shall be known as the Junior Christian En- 
deavor Union of 

Article II,— Object, 

The object of the Union shall be to stimulate and encourage 
an interest in Junior Christian Endeavor work, to provide an 
opportunity for interchange of thought, and for improvement 
in methods among its leaders, to promote the growth of chil- 
dren in the Christian life, and to interest them in every branch 
of church and Sunday-school work. 

Article III. — Membership, 

Any Junior society of Christian Endeavor connected with an 
evangelical church or mission, working upon Christian En- 
deavor principles, and having the Christian Endeavor pledge, 
may join this Union upon its vote to do so, when such vote is 

213 



214 APPmDix a 

approved by the pastor and the Junior superintendent, and 
upon the society's application for admission to the Executive 
Committee of the Union. 

Article IV. — Executive Committee, 

This Union shall be controlled by an Executive Committee 
composed of the superintendents of the Junior societies belong- 
ing to the Union, or of the chairman of the Junior committees 
having the Junior societies in charge. This Committee shall 
meet for consultation once a month, or upon the call of the 
President, and shall choose annually from among its members 
a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, 
whose duties shall be those usually belonging to such officers, 
The pastors and assistant superintendents of the societies be- 
longing to the Union shall constitute an Advisory Committee, 
which may meet for consultation with the Executive Committee, 
upon its request to do so. 

If any society shall not have an assistant superintendent, the 
superintendent may appoint a member to act with the Advisory 
Committtee. 

Article V. — Meetings, 

There shall be a rally or mass-meeting held quarterly, or as 
often as the Executive Committee deem advisable. Such 
meetings may be devotional, social, or otherwise, at the discre- 
tion of the Executive Committee. 

Article VI. — Quorum, 

Representatives from .....societies shall constitute 

a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the 
Executive Committee. 

Article VII. — Honorary Members, 

All Christians not superintendents, but interested in the work 
among the children, may become honorary members of the 
Union by paying the sum of. annually or semi- 
annually, thereby signifying their willingness to do what is in 
their power to advance the interests of the Union. Honorary 
members may be made members of the Advisory Committee. 

Article VIIL— Vote, 

Every member attending a rally or mass-meeting shall be 
entitled to vote upon any question that may be brought before 
such meeting. 



APPENDIX a 215 

Article IX. — Finances. 

The expenditures of this Union shall be met by voluntary 
semi-annual contributions from the different societies belonging 
to it, and by collections taken for this purpose at any of the 
mass-meetings or rallies. 

Article X. — Relation to Christian Endeavor Union, 

Since the Junior Christian Endeavor work is closely aUied to 
the work of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, 
it is expected that the President of the Christian Endeavor 
Union shall have a voice in all the deliberations of the Junior 
Union, and the President of the Junior Union shall have the 
like privilege in all the deliberations of the Christian Endeavor 
Union, in order that the two Unions may work in harmony and 
to the best interests of the Christian Endeavor cause in the city. 

Article XI. — Amendments, 

This constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of 
of the Executive Committee, when deemed ad- 
visable, at any session of the Executive and Advisory Com- 
mittees jointly convened for that purpose. 



216 APPENDIX a 

SUGGESTIVE PROGRAMMES FOR RALLIES. 



1. Praise service, led by a Junior member. 

2. Three-minute papers upon Junior work, by Juniors of 
different societies. 

a. Work of the prayer-meeting committee. 
d. Looking after delinquent members. 
c. Missionary work. 

3. Open parUaments of five minutes each upon the papers. 

4. Song. 

5. Recitation, concert or individual. 

6. Instrumental music, by a Junior or Juniors. 

7. Open parliament : •' Good Citizenship and Temperance.** 

8. Song. 

9. Chalk-talk. 

10. Roll-call of societies. 

11. Song, during which the collection may be taken. 

12. Short consecration service. 

13. Closing prayer and song. Mizpah benediction. 

The whole programme may occupy from an hour to an hour 
and a half, or longer if wished. 

Another programme may be composed of musical and literary 
selections and concert recitations representing the different so- 
cieties belonging to the Union. 

Another programme may be an Easter or Christmas service. 

Another may be a temperance or missionary service. 

Another may be an anniversary or pledge service, as pub- 
lished by the United Society of Christian Endeavor. 

Another may be a service that shall teach loyalty to one's 
country, her flag, and all recognized institutions that promote 
her welfare. 

At all these rallies have the societies bring their banners and 
flags, and wear their badges. Make the preparations for them 
as carefully and completely as you would for the largest con- 
vention. 



APPENDIX D. 



CATECHISMS IN JUNIOR SOCIETIES. 

for the consideration of pastors and junior 
superintendents. 

By Rev. Francis E. Clark. 

There ought to be in every Junior Endeavor society some 
form of catechetical instruction. A good plan would be to use 
for ten minutes of each Junior meeting manuals of question and 
answer, in which the boys and girls may learn the doctrines of 
their own church, its history, and its work, and also lessons in 
clean, upright living, obedience, reverence, humihty, and faith- 
fulness. 

I do not know ho\y this can be done in any other way so well 
as by some manual of instruction, which used to be called 
*' the catechism," and for which there is still no better name. 

What is Advocated. 

I hope it will be fully understood, however, that I do not ad- 
vocate giving all the time, or even most of it, to this instruction. 
The Junior society is chiefly for training. 

Children can be taught to pray only by praying, and to work 
by working, and to express their love for Christ by expressing 
it in some simple, natural, childlike way ; and it is still necessary 
and always will be necessary to devote much of the Junior hour 
to the prayer-meeting and much of the strength of the Junior 
society to the committees, the lookout, and the social, and the 
flower, and the sunshine committees, and all the others which 
furnish the indispensable and absolutely necessary means of 
child-training. 

But at the same time I think that at least ten minutes of every 
hour might with profit be used for instruction by question and 
answer, where the answers should be carefully learned, con- 
cerning the great doctrines of the church, its history and pur- 
pose, and the practical concerns of daily life which result from 
these teachings. 

217 



218 APPENDIX D, 

But do you ask, Where is the perfect catechism that I shall 
use ? 

Your denominational publishing-house undoubtedly will fur- 
nish you with at least one good one, and perhaps with a round 
dozen ; and in this, as in everything else, Christian Endeavor 
will remember its principles, that each society is to be true to 
its own denomination, its teaching, history, and polity. In 
matters of life and practice, to be sure, all denominations agree, 
and manuals of Scripture teaching with the answers in Bible 
words are already pubhshed by the United Society, and can be 
had for a few cents. 

Fitting for Church-Membership. 

Some pastors and superintendents may deem it best to con- 
centrate this catechetical instruction into six or eight weeks of 
the year instead of using ten minutes each week ; that is, they 
will give the whole hour to the catechism for a few weeks, and 
the rest of the year to the training idea. In either case this 
catechism of doctrines and duties will furnish a splendid prepa- 
ration for church-membership, and every year an intelligent 
class of earnest, intelHgent Junior Christians may be fitted for 
the church. 

What a wide and important field does this open ! How 
easily in this way may our children be taught not only what 
their church believes, but what it stands for in history, some- 
thing about the great men who have made its history, and 
something as well about the church universal and the martyrs 
and heroes who belong to all branches of it ! How plainly it 
can be made to appear that right living and pure thinking and 
honesty and reverence and faithfulness and obedience are all 
connected vitally with the religion of Christ ! 

Learn It. 

I think the answers to the questions should be learned week 
by week. This will bring about a revival of the too much 
neglected art of memorizing Scripture passages and important 
truths framed in other words as well. The Juniors usually stay 
in the same society three or four or five years ; and during these 
years, if only one question is taken up and answered and 
thoroughly learned and explained each hour, a very large 
amount of gospel truth can be inculcated. 

A list of many of the leading catechisms that have been pre- 
pared may be secured from the United Society of Chrisdan 
Endeavor. I am not advocating any particular catechism, or 
any particular way of teaching it ; but I am concerned for the 
introduction of the idea, and still more earnestly for the right 



APPENDIX 2). 219 

proportion and adjustment of the two great ideas for which the 
Junior Endeavor society has always stood, instruction and 
training, teaching and practice. Stand for these two elements 
in your Junior society, and you will build up symmetrical, well- 
rounded, beautiful Christian characters, and a multitude of your 
boys and girls will come into the church of Jesus Christ In- 
tel hgently prepared to do their duty as vaUant twentieth-century 
Christians. 



APPENDIX E. 

THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT A JUNIOR MEETING. 
By Mrs. Alice May Scudder. 

Some Things Not To Do. 

Do not go to a children's meeting worrying about its success. 
No amount of worriment ever added to its attractiveness. 
Give plenty of time for preparation, and go with a bright, cheer- 
ful heart. 

Dont scold, God and the children will leave if you do. 
Have plenty of helpers to keep order ; but, if by chance the 
number is insufficient, excuse the troublesome children quietly 
before the meeting commences, by saying to them that, since 
they need a sort of private watchman and none is at hand, they 
may be excused until next week. Allow them to remain on a 
promise of good behavior. 

Do not go unprepared. It is cruel. It is not fair to ask chil- 
dren to leave their bats, balls, skates, and pleasant games to 
come in and sit while a leader scratches for ideas. It would be 
about the same thing as to ask people to dinner, and then to go 
ransacking every closet to find only odds and ends to set before 
them. Have good food, plenty of it, and rightly prepared, and 
the children will eat. I mean, of course, spiritual food. 

Don t talk or pray too long. The army beatitude, *' Blessed 
are they that speak short," applies admirably to Christian En- 
deavor work. You can't present all the needs of the universe in 
a prayer service for children, nor must you exhaust too much 
time in giving advice — even good advice. 

Things to Do. 

Be alive. '*With all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with 
all thy mind." This must be the spirit of every leader of chil- 
dren. There is no danger whatever of having too much 
life, but I have more than once seen dull people who have 

220 



APPENDIX E, 221 

spoiled a meeting. I feel all the time like saying, *• Wake up ! 
Wake up! " 

Be rested. Don't exhaust your nervous force any more than 
is absolutely necessary on the day of the meeting, for you will 
need a large reserve in readiness to drav^ upon. 

Be childlike. The simpler the language, and the more suited 
for children the illustrations are, the better the meeting. This 
is much better understood now than formerly ; in fact, every- 
tliing seems to aid now in making it easy for children to be 
religious. 

Be hopeful. The work of Christianizing children is not done 
in a day, nor even a week, nor sometimes for years. The 
sculptor chisels a bit at a time, and by and by a figure of 
matchless beauty stands out before him. If you feel dis- 
couraged, glance back a year, and see the spiritual earnestness 
of these boys who once were so restless and so hard to interest. 
That dear timid little girl, who fairly trembled from head to foot 
when reading a verse, leads the meeting now with little trouble 
to herself or you. There are sometimes days of discourage- 
ment, but no work ever brought forth better results. Scripture 
says truly, " First the blade, then the ear, after that the full 
corn in the ear." 

Excuse Card. 

To be taken by the lookout committee to any members who 
are absent from the meeting, asking them to write the reason 
of their absence. 



was absent from the 

last meeting because ,......_^,^^.._^^.... »^»^.,.... 



Signed . 



Questions on the Pledge, 

To be answered in writing by those who wish to become 
active members. 



225 APPENDIX E. 



1. If you sign this pledge, what six things do you 
promise ? 

2. Does signing this pledge mean that you will 
begin now to be a Christian ? 

3. When you say, ** 1 will be present at every meet- 
ing ' if I can,' " what do you mean by *• if I can" ? 

4. What excuse could you rightly give for staying 
away from the meeting ? 

5. What does it mean to "take some part in the 
meeting " ? 



The Roll of Honor. 

In some societies it is the custom to have a "roll of honor" 
as a help in keeping order in the meetings. A wooden board 
is prepared, into which little brass hooks have been screwed, 
as many hooks as there are children in attendance at the meet- 
ings. When a child has been present at four meetings, and has 
been quiet and reverent, and so far as known has been honor- 
able in his behavior outside of the meetings, a card with his 
name on it is hung on this board. The effort is made to have 
all the children keep their names on this honor roll, and their 
attention is often called to it. Any one who stays away from a 
meeting without a sufficient reason, or is troublesome in the 
meeting, or is known to dishonor his society outside the meet- 
ing, must have his name taken off the roll, and it requires four 
weeks of good behavior to get it back again. In some societies 
this plan has been found to be a real help in securing faithful 
attendance and good behavior in the meetings. 



APPENDIX F. 



HOW TO ORGANIZE A MOTHERS' SOCIETY OF 
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

By Mrs. A. B. Fellows. 

"We are not astonished at the interest manifested in the Mothers* 
Society of Christian Endeavor and the demand that comes to 
us from all over the country to know how to organize such a 
society, for we feel that the leaven is working and the way will 
be opened. We are indeed grateful to know of the awakened 
interest in the hearts of many mothers concerning a higher 
spiritual standard in their homes and a desire to combine their 
efforts in order to bring this about. 

The question now arises, '• How can we organize a Mothers' 
society of Christian Endeavor?" You must first get the 
mothers with one accord in one place, by issuing a call from 
the pulpit, or by personal invitation, or both. Then have some 
one present the necessity of such an organization and try to 
awaken them to their responsibilities as mothers in their homes, 
and also as helpers in the Junior work. The pastor, or Junior 
superintendent (if a Junior Christian Endeavor society exists in 
yonr church), or both, will readily realize the importance and 
possibiHties of such an organization, and should present it to 
the mothers. Then organize with a president, a vice-president, 
a secretary, and committees — also a pledge and constitution. 
Each society has, of course, the privilege of adopting their own 
pledge and constitution, but you may look favorably upon one 
that has been adopted by many societies. Meet monthly on 
some week-day, as best suits your convenience. The meeting 
should be devotional and full of praise and prayer the first 
half-hour. Let every member take part in some way, with sen-* 
tence prayers, with a passage of Scripture, or perhaps with a 
bit of poetry or quotation bearing upon the topic. The last 
half-hour could be devoted to education on all subjects that in- 
fluence the home. 

May the work go forward until this society shall compass the 
globe. " When mothers realize the scope of motherhood, there 
is hope for the world." 

223 



APPENDIX G. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE MOTHERS' SOCIETY OF 
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 

Article I. — Name, 

This society shall be called the Mothers' Society of Christian 
Endeavor of the- Church of [city] 

Article II. — Purposes, 

The object of this society shall be to stimulate mothers to 
raise the standard of the Christian home, and to pray for aid to 
help in their Christian hfe the children, especially those who 
belong to the Junior Society of Christian Endeavor. 

Article III. — Membership, 

Section i. Any woman interested in the welfare of chil- 
dren may become a member of this society by signing the fol- 
lowing pledge : — 

Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise him 
that I will strive to do whatever he would have me do ; espe- 
cially that I will endeavor to bring the children to Christ and 
to train them for him. To this end I will co-operate with the 
Junior Christian Endeavor superintendents in any way I can. 
I promise to seek daily the Master's blessing on the children. 
I will attend each meeting of the Mothers' Society of Christian 
Endeavor, unless prevented by a reason that I can conscien- 
tiously give to my Saviour, and will come prepared to add to 
the interest of the meeting. When obliged to be absent from 
the consecration meeting, I will send, if possible, a message to 
be read in response to my name. 

Name .~ ~~ 

Address — ~ 

Date — — 



224 



APPENDIX G. 225 

Section 2. The relation of the Mothers* Society to the 
Junior Society of Christian Endeavor should be close and inti- 
mate, and it is expected that the members will in every way 
possible seek to promote the spiritual growth of the boys and 
girls of their church and Sunday-school as well as of the Junior 
society. 

Article IV. — Officers. 

Section i. The officers of the society shall be a President, 
a Vice-President, and a Secretary, and such other officers as 
may be necessary. 

Section 2. The President shall keep especial watch over 
the interests of the society, and it shall be her care to see that 
the committees perform the duties devolving upon them. 

Section 3. The Vice-President shall assist the President in 
her duties and perform them in her absence. 

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep a record of the names 
and addresses of the members, and the minutes of all prayer 
and business meetings, and perform the other usual duties of a 
Secretary. 

Section 5. The officers and committees shall be elected by 
the society, and shall be chosen once a year, at the first meet- 
ing in [month] 

Article V. — Committees, 

Section i. The Lookout Committee shall bring new mem- 
bers into the society, and shall do its utmost to see that the 
pledge is faithfully observed. 

Section 2. The Prayer-Meeting Committee shall select 
topics and assign leaders for the meetings. 

Section 3. Other committees may be added and duties un- 
dertaken according to the needs of the society. 

Section 4. Each chairman shall bring a written report of 
what her committee has done during the past month, and read 
it at each meeting. The chairman of all standing committees, 
with the officers of the society, shall comprise the executive 
committee. All important matters of business shall be first 
considered by this committee and by it reported to the society 
for action. 

Article W.-^Meetings. 

Section i. The prayer-meetings shall be held - — 

of each month. At least once in three months a consecration 
meeting shall be held, at which the pledge shall be read and 
the names of members called, and the response shall be con- 
sidered a renewal of the pledge. 



226 APPENDIX G, 

Section 2. Special prayer-meetings or business meetings of 
the society may be held at any time, at the call of the president. 

Section 3. The committees should meet at least once a 
month with the president, for consultation with regard to their 
work. 

Article VII. — Withdrawals, 

Members of the Mothers' Society who find it impossible to 
perform the duties of the society, or who for any reason wish 
to withdraw, can do so at any time by signifying their desire to 
the secretary ; and their names shall be taken from the list of 
members. 

Article VIII. — Amendments, 

This constitution may be amended at any business meeting 
of the society, by a two-thirds vote of all the members present, 
provided notice of the proposed amendment shall have been 
given at some previous business or prayer-meeting. 



APPENDIX H. 

MOTHERS' SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 
Educational Topics for Prayer-Meetings. 

1. Lessons From Three Mothers, — Hannah, Mary, and 

the mother of Samson. Prov. 31 : 28. 

Every mother is a sacred instrument in the hand of the 
Creator. Get an understanding of the measureless forces from 
which you can draw. 

2. The Power of Example in Our Homes. Heb. 12 : i. 

Our hves are an open book, read attentively by the occu- 
pants of our homes. Is our conversation in heaven? Can 
our standard of living be questioned? How can we raise the 
standard ? 

3. Our Children's Obedience, i Sam. 3: 3-10. 

What kind of a parent is worthy of obedience ? How to win 
obedience. The sad results if we fail in this. 

4. Good Cheer at Home. John 15: 11. 

What makes a happy home? How is household joy fre- 
quently marred ? How take the first step towards changing a 
sad to a joyous home ? 

5. Teaching the Children. Ps. 32 : 8. 

What things should a child learn at home ? How may a 
mother get time to teach her children ? What are the rewards 
of such efforts ? 

6. Ministry of Suffering in Our Homes. Matt. 26 : 39. 

There are no heights without depths. Paths that tend up- 
ward are paths of sacrifice. First the cross ; then the crown. 

227 



228 APPENDIX H. 

7. Self-Control in the Home. Heb. 12 : 1-3. 

Gain it by consecration and meditation, continually looking 
towards oar Ideal, who will carry us beyond the storms of pas- 
sion into a haven of peace. Consider such an example in the 
home, and the atmosphere it would create. 

8. The Bible in the Home. Ps. 119: 54. 

How may we exalt the Bible in our homes ? What means 
can we take to inspire love for it in our children ? 

9. A Growing Home. Ps. 84 : 7. 

The effect on the children when father and mother stop grow- 
ing mentally and spiritually. How we can widen the home 
hfe. 

10. Reading. Prov. 4 : 7. 

Read for culture, information, and discipline. Bring the 
companionship of large souls into the home through the Bible, 
history, and science ; and you will thus cultivate a love for the 
beautiful, the true, the good. 

11. Christian Courtesy, i Pet. 3 : 8. 

How can we best teach children to be courteous and com- 
passionate ? By the Word, by our example, and by develop- 
ing in them all the Christian graces. All refinement, all culture, 
all purity of heart, are embodied in Christian courtesy. 

12. Faults, and How to Correct Them. Tas. i : 4. 5« 

Our children's common faults. Injurious ways of fault-find- 
ing. The kind of fault-finding that truly corrects. 



Index 



AFTER-meeting, 64. 
Arnold, Dr. 38. 
Attendance, 61, 62, 105. 

BAND-of-mercy committee, 133. 

Bible-reading, 59, 74, 83; faithfulness to Bible-reading, 106; how 
Juniors may read the Bible, 107 ; Bible-reading habits, 113. 

Business meetings, importance of, 87 ; when to hold, 87 ; how to con- 
duct, 87. 

Children, the children and the church, 8 ; other methods of work 
for children, 1 1 ; what the Junior society has done for children, 
17; children's age, 20; children's education, 20; children's place 
in the church, 29 ; church's duty to the children, 29 ; the pastor 
and the children, 40 ; organized work for children, 43 ; little 
children, 53 ; what to do for children who are not members of the 
society, 55 ; faithfulness of children, 69 ; responsibility for the 
business, 88 ; church-membership, 167 ; preparing the children 
individually for church-membership, 171 ; parents and the chil- 
dren, 183. 

Choir, the Junior, 134. 

Church, the children, and, 8; Williston Church, 9; easy transition 
to church fellowship, 13; church-membership, 18, 167; children 
as church-members, 26 ; preparation for church-membership, 28, 
168; children's place in the church, 29; church's duty to the 
children, 29 ; a Junior society in every church, 30 ; every church, 
a training-school, 41 ; church covenant in child's language, 7 1 
sunshine for the church, 130. 

Committees, 47, 49; reports of, 90; executive committee, 92; com 
mittee work for preparatory members, 92 ; most necessary com 
mittees, 98 ; how to appoint, 99 ; varieties of committee workj 
99 ; who should direct the committees, 100 ; work of flower com 
mittee, loi ; lookout committee, 103; prayer-meeting committeCj 
III ; missionary committee, 123; sunshine committee, 128; other 
committees, 132; object of committee work, 132. 

Conventions, State, 41. 

Correspondence school, 40, 

Decision day, 167. 

229 



230 INDEX. 

Evangelistic meetings, i68. 

Finances, 139; tithe-giving, 141; mite-boxes, 142; entertainments, 

143; right methods of raising money, 145. 
Flower committee, 10 1. 

Graduation of Juniors, 155; preparation for graduation, 156; gradu- 
ation exercises, 158; work for graduates, 160. 

Helping hand committee, 134. 

JowETT, Professor, 38. 

Junior committee, 41, 163. 

Junior rallies, 193. 

Junior society, the first, 14; origin and growth of Junior societies, 15 ; 
early Junior societies, 15; object of, 16; its development and 
success, 16; first rally, 17; what it has done for children, 18; 
objections and answers to, 23, 24 ; preparation for church-mem- 
bership, 28 ; in every church, 30 • Junior society and Y. P. S. C. 
E., 31 ; care of Junior society, 36; leader, 36; how to find a 
superintendent, 36 ; ideal superintendent, 37 ; preparation for 
Junior work, 41 ; how to organize, 45 ; attendance, 61, 62 ; par- 
ticipation, 61 ; reorganization, 66; prayer-meeting, 75, 78, 80, 83 ; 
special meetings, 84 ; division, 85 ; importance of business meet- 
ings, 87 ; finances, 88 ; society methods, 89 ; committees, 47, 49 ; 
executive committee, 92 ; most necessary committees, 98 ; flower 
committee, loi ; lookout committee, 103; prayer-meeting com- 
mittee, III; flexibility of committees, 117; missionary work, 
118; missionary committee, 123; sunshine committee, 125; 
object of committee work, 132; unusual committees, 138; 
finances, 139; entertainments, 143; sociables, 147; Junior 
graduation, 155 ; relation to Y. P. S. C. E., 162; union meetings, 
164; Junior society working with the Sunday-school, 176; 
Junior society and the parents, 183; Junior unions, 189; Junior 
rallies, 193; Junior State work, 195; number of societies, 197; 
Junior fellowship, 202. 

Junior superintendents, 25 ; how to find, 36 ; ideal superintendent, 
37 ; more than one superintendent, 39, 201 ; choosing of superin- 
tendent, 40; every church a training-school, 41 ; prayer as prep- 
aration, 42 ; superintendent's part in meeting, 82 ; Junior super- 
intendent and the day-school, 179; superintendent and parents, 
183; Junior superintendent and the mothers, 186; topics for 
superintendent'^ meetings, 193; how to find a Junior superin- 
tendent, 200. 

Junior unions, 189; union meetings, 190 ; officers of Junior union, 
191 ; union treasury, 192. 

Lookout committee, 103. 



INDEX, 231 

Members, preparatory, 49, 52, 62; active members, 50, 58, 65; 
honorary, 50, 52, 56; committee work for preparatory mem- 
bers, 97. 

Missionary committee, 123; (see missionary work) ; sunshine for the 
missionaries, 128; missionary socials, 137; how to earn mission- 
ary money, 140 ; mite-boxes, 142. 

Missionary work, 118; interest in church boards, 119; education in 
denominational missions, 120; division of gifts, 121; missionary 
meetings, 121; missionary committee, 123; sunshine for the 
missionaries, 1 28 ; missionary socials, 1 37 ; how to earn mission- 
ary money, 140; mite-boxes, 142. 

Mizpah Circle, 9, 14. 

Music committee, 134. 

Officers, 47, 48; chairman, 90; secretary, 95. 

Organizations, other, 32 ; too much or too little, 45 ; how to organ- 
ize, 45. 

Parents and the Junior society, 183; mothers' meetings, 184; par- 
ents' Endeavor societies, 186; critical mothers, 186; the superin- 
tendent and mothers, 186; consulting together, 187. 

Participation, 61, 75, 80. 

Pastor, pastor's class, 10 ; the pastor and the children, 40. 

Pledge, 11,46; active pledge, 50; preparatory pledge, 51 ; unfaith- 
fulness to, 65 ; objections to, 68 ; is the pledge too hard ? 70.; 
church covenant in child's language, 71 ; objections to promises, 
72; can a child keep it ? 73; how to help a child keep it, 73. 

Prayer, 60; in the prayer-meeting, 81 ; sincerity in prayer, 82 ; faith- 
fulness to, 106. 

Prayer-meeting, 75 ; when to hold, 78 ; length of, 80 ; taking part, 
80; superintendent's part in, 82; object of, 83; things that help 
the prayer- meeting, 112. 

Prayer-meeting committee, ill. 



Reorganization, 66. 
Roads, Rev. Charles, 13. 

Social committee, 135; sociables, 136; missionary socials, 137; 
Junior sociables, how carried on, who may attend, value of, 147- 
149; education and real object of, 152. 

Sunday-school, rise of, 8; Sunday-school a school atmosphere, 12; 
Sunday-school the ploughed field, 46; working together for the 
Sunday-school, 176;. the Sunday-school helping the Junior 
society, 178. 

Sunshine committee, 125; sunshine at school, 126; sunshine for the 
aged, 127; sunshine for the sick, 128; sunshine for the mission- 
aries, 128; sunshine for the church, 130. 



232 INDEX, 

Temperance committee, 137. 

Training in Christian service, 22 ; manual training for Junior work, 
25 ; purpose of all education, 43. 

Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, 31 ; duty to Juniors, 
162; Junior committee, responsibility for the Juniors, 164; union 
meetings, 164. 



price list 
Junior Christi an Ende avor Supplies. 

Daily Bible Verse, with Prayer- Meeting Topics. This attractive little book* 
let contains a verse for every day, bearing on the topic for the week. It helps 
the children to keep their promise to read the Bible every day. Price postpaid^ 
three cents each ; $1.50 ^ hicndred. 

Prayer- Meeting Topic Cards, On fine cardboard. Price^ $1.00 per hundred. 
Special embossed design with topics for six months and name of society and 
officers and committee printed on same. Price, $3.00 per hundred. 

Reward Cards. 

As an encouragement to the children to commit to memory the Ten Commandments 
and the Apostles' Creed, give them one of these beautiful illuminated cards. 

PER 100 

The Ten Commandments. Folding card. Size, open, 6 x 4^ I2.50 

The Apostles' Creed. Size, 3IX5I 1.50 



Junior 




Badge. 



EACH 
Gold ^I.OO 

Silver • ,25 

Corinthian Silver 15 



BACH 

Gold and Enamel. • • • • • $1.00 

Silver and Enamel 30 

Corinthian Silver and Enamel, .20 



Junior Christian Endeavor Songs. 

Our New Junior Hymn-Book. Compiled by Ira 

D. Sankey, John Willis Baer, and William Shaw. 
OPINIONS. 
*'It is splendid. I was pleased to see our pledge song 

in it." — Miss M. C. Merritt, Junior Superin- 

tende7it/or Ohio, 
** I am much pleased with the new Junior song book." 

— Miss Ruth Nash, Junior Superintendent for 

Kansas. 
** I am delighted with the Junior Christian Endeavor 

songs. They are splendid, no jingles among them. 

I am sure they will fill a long-felt waTit." — Miss 

Anna E. Kennedy, Junior Superintendent for 

Colorado. 
Sunday Schools, as well as Junior societies, will do 

well to examine this work before purchasing. The 

Responsive Readings will be found very helpful. 

PRICES. 

Words and Music. Board covers, in quantities, by express, at purchaser's ex- 
pense, 25 cents. Single copy by mail, 30 cents. 

Words Only Edition. In quantities, by express, at purchaser's expense, 10 
cents. Single copy by mail, u cents. Cash must be sent with all orders^ or ij 
desired they will be sent C O, D, 







Cardt 



r« Per 

•^ * hund. 

Junior Membership Pledge. Handsomely lithographed , • , . $ .50 

** Pansy " design in colors and gold • • . i.oo 

Heavy gilt edge 2.00 

Junior Optional Pledge . . . . . . . . . . . .30 

Junior Daily Record of Bible Reading. A pretty card with the C. E. 
monogram printed in gold and color. There are tliirty-one dots on the 
monogram, one to be pricked out each day when the Bible verse is read . .50 

Junior Missionary Offering. The card is about 7x5 inches. The face con- 
tains the pledge and other matter attractively printed in two colors. On 
the back are ten small envelopes. In these the Juniors are to put their 
pennies until each contains five cents, making a total, when all are filled, 
of fifty cents. The card is then returned to the superintendent, and the 
money sent to the missionary boards. Price, card and envelopes com- 
plete, post-paid .,.,,,. Z.oo 

Junior Temperance Pledge .30 

Junior Topic Cards (Topics for the year) . . . • . . ,1.00 

Junior Leaflets. 

A Word to Busy Pastors. By Rev. W. W. Sleeper. Two cents each . i.oo 

A Word to Junior Superintendents. By John Willis Baer. Two cents 

each I.oo 

Catechisms in Junior Societies. By Rev. F. E. Clark. Three cents each, 1.50 

Quiet Hour for Juniors. By Mrs. L. T. Sloan. Two cents each . . 00 

Helps and Hints for Junior Workers. By Mrs. Ella N. Wood. Five cents 

each 3.00 

Junior Christian Endeavor ; Its Field and Work. By Mrs. F. E. Clark 

and Miss Kate H. Haus. Five cents each 3.00 

Junior Christian Endeavor Unions. Ey Kate H. Haus. Three cents each, 1.50 

Junior Constitution and By-Laws. Two cents each . . . . .1.00 

Junior Prayer-Meeting Topics and Daily Verse. The yearly prayer- 
meeting topics and a Scripture verse for every day in the year, bearing 
upon the topics. Three cents each . . i -So 

Junior Societies : What They Are ; How to Start Them ; Things to Re- 
member. By Rev. F. E. Clark. Three cents each 2.cx> 

Meetings for Juniors and How to Conduct Them. By Mrs. James L. 
Hill. Twelve cents each, (In quantities, ten cents.) 

Missionary Plans for Junior Societies. By V. F. P. . . . = . 2.00 

Scripture Illustrated (Object-Lessons). By Mrs. Alice M. Scudder. Five 

cents each . . 3.00 



Junior Catechisms. 



Gospel Truth. By Rev. James W. Cooper, D.D. The great truths of the Bible 
answered in the exact words of Scripture. Five cents each ; |i.oo for twenty- 
five ; %. 00 a hundred. 

Questions on the Books of the Old Testament. By Mrs. C. J. Buchanan. Con- 
secutive Bible studies especially adapted to young people. Five cents each; 
$1 .00 for twenty-five ; ^^3 .00 a hundred. 

Outline Study of the Life of Christ. By Rev. A. W. Spooner. For Httle learn- 
ers. Five cents each ; $i .00 for twenty-five ; ^3 .00 a hundred. 

Lessons on the Life of Jesus. By Rev. Geo. B. Stewart, D.D. Two courses of 
forty lessons each. The Saviour's life is considered chronologically in an inter- 
esting, winsome manner. Ten cents each ; ^i.oo a dozen. 



Junior ^ooks* 



Bible in Lesson and Story, The. By Ruth Mowry Brown. 7^x5 incheL 
2<;4pp. Handsomely illustrated with twelve full-page engravings. Bound in 
royal purple cloth, with illuminated title in gold, $£.25. Forty chapters upon 
as many Bible truths, each chapter written in a manner that will especially in- 
terest the children. In connection with each lesson is a delightful, illustrative 
story, together with a " Memory Gem" and an " Occupation," in which the 
children are given something to do that will help impress the truths that have 
been taught. It is equally adapted to Junior workers, primary teachers, or for 
use in the home . 

Eighty Pleasant Evenings. A book of social entertainments. Each social forms 
a complete programme for an evening's entertainment. The Juniors are espe- 
cially remembered. Thirty-five cents. 

Junior Recitations. By Amos R.Wells. 6^ x 4^ inches, 128 pp., cloth bind- 
ing, with unique cover design in colors. Fifty cents. A book of children's 
Recitations, Dialogues, Exercises, etc., suitable for Anniversary, Missionary, 
Temperance Meetings, and other special occasions. The volume has one 
unique feature that will commend it to all practical workers : each piece is intro- 
duced with directions for its rendering, — gestures, costumes, if any, decora- 
tions, accessories of all sorts. In this way the working value of the book is 
doubled. A large part of the book consists of exercises by Professor Wells that 
have never before been published in any form. 

Junior Topics Outlined. By Ella N. Wood. Cloth. Price, 50 cents, post-paid. 
This is the most helpful and successful Junior book ever published.- It gives 
an interesting talk upon the subject for every Junior Christian Endeavor 
prayer-meeting topic of the year. Each topic is illumined by a chalk-talk, 
object-lesson, illustrative story, anecdote, or something that will interest the 
children. Every superintendent needs this book. By its use the success of 
every meeting is assured. 

Social Evenings. By Amos R. Wells, Managing Editor of The Christian En- 
deavor World. Price, 35 cents. A book for Social Committees, and for all 
who appreciate pleasant and helpful amusements. 

Social to Save . By Amos R. Wells. Cloth. Price, 35 cents. A companion vol- 
ume to " Social Evenings." Everything is new and fresh. A mine of enjoy- 
ment for your society and home circle. 

The Junior Manual. A Handbook for Junior Workers. By Amos R. Wells. 
This is the only full and complete manual for Junior workers ever published. 
It contains many times more matter than any other help for Junior superin- 
tendents ever written. It is practical. All its plans have been tried and proved. 
Hundreds of Junior superintendents, from all parts of the world, have con- 
tributed to it their brightest methods. It covers the ground. All phases of the 
subject are thoroughly treated. It is very concise. Into every paragraph is 
condensed a plan that might well be expanded into an article. Forty chapters ; 
300 pp.; 900 separate articles. Price, cloth-bound, ^1.25, post-paid. Special 
edition, in board covers, 75 cents. 

UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

THEMONT TEMPLE, BOSTON, MASS. 155 LA SALLE ST., CHICAGO, ILL. 

3 



The King^s Raises. 



A Collection of Junior Songs. By Charles S. Brown. In heavy manila paper 
covers. Price, sample copy, 12 cents, post-paid ; in quantities, io cents each, 
$4.50 for fifty, or $8.00 for one hundred ; express not prepaid. 

It is confidently believed that this is the best small collection of hymns that 
has ever been compiled for Junior Christian Endeavor societies or for Primary 
Departments of Sabbath Schools. The book contains the words and music of 
about fifty pieces, every one of which is a gem. Many of the songs have been 
written especially for this book, and are copyrighted property. 



Junior Graduation diplomas* 

Junior workers have been calling for some time for an attractive but inexpensive 
diploma that could be given to the members of the Junior Society when they are 
graduated into the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. The United 
Society has met this demand by issuing a beautiful little diploma, 8 x 10 inches, 
lithographed in three colors. It has met with the unqualified approval of Junior 
leaders, and we feel sure that it will be greatly prized by the Junior graduates. 
Price, sample copy, 5 cents ; 40 cents per dozen. 



Intermediate Diplomas* 

We also have diplomas same as above, but for Juniors who graduate into the 
Intermediate Society. Price, 5 cents each ; 40 cents a dozen. 



^ibte Games* 



Who Knows His Bible ? Children and Young folks seek and must have amuse- 
ment, and Christian parents have a duty to perform in that direction. They 
ought to make the home, fireside, and centre-table the brightest spots on earth. 
Pastime is lost time if profit to the individual is not part of the sport. All good 
qualities are combined in the new game. It combines three games, all useful 
and enjoyable. Price, 50 cents, post-paid. 

Divided Wisdom. A game based on hymns and Bible proverbs. By " Pansy " 
( Mrs. G. R. Alden ). There is probably no person living today who has 
exerted a more helpful influence over young people than the well-known author, 
" Pansy." To meet the needs of the children in their leisure moments and 
provide them with exercises that would be not only interesting but helpful and 
instructive led to the preparation of this game. Price, 50 cents, post-paid. 

Bible Authors. A Bible game that is both entertaining and instructive, and that 
will, in the most interesting way, make the children familiar with a large num- 
ber of Bible verses and characters. Price, 50 cents. 

The Williston Game of Bible Queries. By Mrs. James L. Hill. Our latest 
game and one of the very best. There are two sets of cards, one of questions 
and the other of answers. Three or more entirely different games can be 
played. They are all exceedingly interesting and helpful. Just the thing for 
young people. Price, 35 cents, post-paid. 

4 



Junior Chrtsfian Endeavor CommiUee 
Report Blanks* 

Every Junior worker will appreciate the importance of having some simple but 
suggestive form of report blank for the use of committees. The following blanks, 
covering the work of the principal committees, have been prepared and have met 
the unqualified approval of many Junior superintendents who have examined them. 
Every Junior Society should have a set. 

No. I. Lookout Committee Blank. 

No. 2. Prayer-meeting Committee Blank. 

No. 3. Social Committee Blank. 

No. 4. Music Committee Blank. 

No. 5. Missionary and Temperance Committee Blank. 

No. 6. Sunday-school Committee Blank. 

No. 7. Flower and Sunshine Committee Blank. 

These blanks are printed in duplicate so the committee can retain one and give 
the other to the secretary. They are bound in pamphlet form, each pamphlet con- 
taining twenty-five blanks. 

PRICE. 

Any of the above Committee Blanks (each) , . • , , . 
(Complete set of seven for ;^i.5o.) 



as 



Junior Pledge for Chapel Wall* 




TTT rusting' In the Lord Jesus 
J& I te- Clirist for strength, I 
'A^ promise Him that I will 
strive ^/^to^OAvl;iatever, He 
would^llke to'have me do; 
that"l/^llfpray:and read 
the.Bible^ever;>5idayi ^and 
Ihal^ Jusfso far as I know 
how;Jl will tpyi'to lead a 
ClirlsUan^llfe,;I^wlll - be 
present^ at every meeting 
of ttie'soci-ety^when?! can, 
<>nd.\v^ill' take 'some part 
fjv^evei^ me e 1 1 n g . 



The accompany- 
ing cut is a facsimile 
of our large Junior 
Wall Pledge. Size, 
28 X 36 inches; 
printed on heavy- 
paper in large, clear 
type that can be 
easily read across a 
large vestry. It is 
suspended from rod, 
with roll attached, 
and does not require 
framing. Price, post- 
paid, 75 cents. 



UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 



Tremont Temple, 

BOSTON, MASS. 



155 La Salle Street, 

CHICAGO, ILL. 



The Perry Pictures. 



OR illustrating Bible stories and impressing the 
truths of the lesson upon the minds of the 
young people, there is nothing better than the 
Perry Pictures. They are half-tone reproduc- 
tions of the world's great paintings, beautifully printed 
on fine paper. The low price at which they are sold 
places them within ^the reach of all. They come in 
various sizes and styles, as follows: — 

REGULAR SIZE, 5 1-2x8 inches, ^ n * 

assorted as desired. No orders for ^^'^^ v^^fiL 

Each 

less than 25 pictures. 120 pictures, $1. 

KEW YORK EDITION, 7x9 inches, printed in Sepia 
tone on rough paper. Ten pictures for 25 cents; each 
additional picture in the same order, two cents additional. 

EXTRA SIZE, 10 x 12 inches or larger, printed in Sepia 
tone on rough paper. Five pictures for 25 cents ; eleven 
for 50 cents; twenty-three for $1.00; each additional 
picture in the same order, four cents each. 

SMALL SIZE, 3x31-2 inches, one-half cent each, as- 
sorted as desired. No order for less than 50 pictures. 



NOTICE: Prices inciude postage. Mo order filled by mail 
for less than 25 cents, 

Jk beautifully illustrated catalogue with t,000 miniature 
illustrations and a sample picture will be sent upon receipt 
of three two-cent stamps. 



UNITED SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, 

Tremont Temple, Boston* 



JUN 1 1903 



